Rituals That Use Fire

Today we learned that candles and fire are an important part of many Hindu rituals.

In truth, fire is used in the rituals of many religions. I asked the students to think about the reasons that many religions use fire as a part of their rituals.

The students' answers were fantastic:

• Fire is powerful, so it helps people to sense or feel the power of their god(s)
• Fire (especially candles) can be peaceful, so it helps people feel a sense of sacred peacefulness
• Fire is a natural element, so it symbolizes a connection between people and nature
• Fire can be seen as a way of burning away bad things, or sins