#1
Which religious tradition celebrates the festival of Diwali?
Hinduism
ExplanationDiwali is a Hindu festival of lights symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
#2
What is the Hindu ritual of 'Puja' primarily about?
Worship
ExplanationPuja is a Hindu ritual of worship, typically involving offerings, prayers, and devotional acts.
#3
What is the central ritual of the Christian sacrament of Baptism?
Immersion in water
ExplanationBaptism involves the symbolic act of immersing a person in water, representing spiritual purification and initiation into the Christian faith.
#4
What is the primary ritual observed during the Hindu festival of Holi?
Playing with colors
ExplanationHoli involves the playful throwing and smearing of colored powders and water, symbolizing the victory of good over evil and the arrival of spring.
#5
In which religion is the 'Circumcision' ceremony commonly practiced?
Judaism
ExplanationCircumcision, the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis, is a common religious practice in Judaism as part of the covenant between God and the Jewish people.
#6
During Hajj, Muslims perform Tawaf. What is Tawaf?
Circumambulation around the Kaaba
ExplanationTawaf is the ritual of walking around the Kaaba counterclockwise, performed by Muslims during Hajj and Umrah.
#7
What is the primary purpose of a Bar Mitzvah ceremony in Judaism?
To mark the transition to adulthood
ExplanationBar Mitzvah signifies a Jewish boy's coming of age at 13, when he becomes responsible for religious duties.
#8
In Buddhism, what is the purpose of the 'Vesak' festival?
Celebrating Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death
ExplanationVesak commemorates the birth, enlightenment (nirvana), and death (parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha in Buddhism.
#9
What is the 'Shabbat' in Judaism?
Day of rest and spiritual rejuvenation
ExplanationShabbat, or the Sabbath, is a weekly day of rest and spiritual reflection in Judaism, beginning Friday evening and ending Saturday evening.
#10
Which of the following is a key element of the Japanese Shinto ritual of 'Oharae'?
Purification rites
ExplanationOharae consists of purification rituals performed to cleanse impurities and misfortune from individuals and the community in Shintoism.
#11
In Hinduism, what is 'Arati'?
Ceremonial worship with light
ExplanationArati is a Hindu ritual of waving lighted wicks before images of deities, symbolizing the offering of light, heat, and energy.
#12
In Sikhism, what is the term for the ceremonial initiation into the Khalsa community?
Amrit Sanchar
ExplanationAmrit Sanchar is the Sikh ceremony of initiation into the Khalsa community, involving the drinking of amrit, a sweetened nectar.
#13
Which of the following is a central ritual in the Christian faith symbolizing the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
Communion
ExplanationCommunion, also known as the Eucharist, symbolizes the sharing of bread and wine as the body and blood of Christ among Christians.
#14
What is the significance of 'Adhaan' in Islam?
Call to prayer
ExplanationAdhaan, also known as the call to prayer, is a vocal announcement inviting Muslims to engage in ritual prayer (salah).
#15
What is the primary ritual performed during the 'Purim' festival in Judaism?
Reading the Book of Esther
ExplanationDuring Purim, Jews read the Book of Esther, commemorating the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to annihilate them.
#16
What is the Islamic ritual performed during the month of Ramadan?
Fasting from sunrise to sunset
ExplanationDuring Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn (fajr) until sunset (maghrib) as an act of worship, self-discipline, and spiritual reflection.
#17
What is the key ritual performed during the Jewish festival of 'Sukkot'?
Building and dwelling in a temporary hut
ExplanationDuring Sukkot, Jews build and dwell in sukkahs (temporary huts) to commemorate the temporary dwellings their ancestors lived in during the exodus from Egypt.