When Faith Becomes a Festival
Where devotion meets celebration, community and commerce. The world's religions have emerged in different regions, at different times, and from remarkably different understandings of life and existence. Some believe in one God, others in many manifestations of the divine, while still others give central importance to understanding human suffering, compassion, ethical conduct and the search for liberation. Their teachings, rituals, philosophies and traditions may differ enormously. Yet, despite these differences, religion has rarely remained confined to matters of faith and worship. Over centuries, it has influenced how people live, the customs they follow, the communities they form and the occasions they celebrate. Some of these traditions have become so deeply woven into everyday life that their influence extends far beyond those who practise the faith itself. Religious festivals offer a particularly delightful example. For the devout, a festival may be an occasion f...