About

Why Rituals?

Most of us grew up lighting the diya, folding our hands in namaste, or breaking a coconut at the temple, without ever being told why. Why Rituals? is a series of two-minute films that answers that question, one ritual at a time.

Each film gives the meaning as tradition tells it, in plain words, with the Sanskrit beside it, and ends with one small thing to try at home that week.

The series draws on K.V. Singh's Hindu Rites and Rituals and on widely shared stories from the Puranas and epics. Families practise these rituals in many different ways; the films describe common traditions, not the only right way.

New films arrive every week. Join the list to get each one in your inbox.