| This article describes the services of the worlds | | | | statues that are dressed in different clothes for |
| major religions which are (in no particular order): | | | | every day if the year. Food and flowers are offered |
| Christianity | | | | an dincense burned while the priests chant. Food is |
| Buddhism | | | | given to the worshippers as they leave the temple. |
| Hinduism | | | | The service is made up of three parts, the kindling of |
| Islam | | | | the fire, the worship of the eight and the singing of |
| Sikhism | | | | the bhajans. The priest lights a sacred fire and |
| Christianity | | | | sections of the Vedas are chanted. Then the arti |
| The most common way in which Christians worship is | | | | tray is placed in front of the gods. A spot of red |
| by the taking of bread and wine. This is known as | | | | paste is then placed on the foreheads of the |
| several names, Mass, Eucharist and Holy Communion. | | | | statues, on the pictures and on the worshippers |
| It usually takes place in a church. The purpose of the | | | | whilst the arti tray is carried around the people. They |
| taking of bread and wine is to remember how Jesus | | | | hold their hands over the fire and then pass their |
| ate the Last Supper with his disciples. The bread and | | | | hands over their foreheads and hair. Food is then |
| wine is blessed before being taken by the | | | | given to the worshippers and hymns sung. |
| congregation. The service is usually accompanied by | | | | Islam |
| the singing of hymns and readings from the Bible. A | | | | Muslims worship in a mosque. In Muslim countries |
| collection is held for the congregation to donate | | | | these are usually square buildings with a dome on top. |
| towards the upkeep of the church | | | | Water is provided outside the mosque for |
| Buddhism | | | | worshippers to wash before praying. The mosque will |
| Bhuddhists may be split into two distict group, | | | | have one or more tall towers known as minarets |
| Theravada Buddhists and Mahayana Buddhists. | | | | from which the muezzin will call the people to pray. All |
| Theravada Buddhists originate from India, Sri Lanka, | | | | Muslims must pray to God (Allah) five times a day, |
| Myananar and Thailand. They traditionally worship in a | | | | having washed. This is to ensure they are clean and |
| temple where incense is burned and paper lanterns | | | | pure for prayer. Having washed, the worshippers |
| are lit. While worshipping they offer gifts to the | | | | face in the direction of the Kabba in Mecca. This is a |
| Three Jewels, which are the Buddha, the Dharma | | | | shrine in the city of Mecca that contains a holy Black |
| (the teachings) and the sanha (the monks). Flowers, | | | | Stone. |
| incense sticks and small statues are traditionally | | | | Muslims pray in a variety of positions, standing, |
| offered as gifts and bells are rung during this | | | | kneeling and touching the ground with their |
| gift-making. | | | | foreheads, using a prayer mat to ensure that the |
| The Mahayana Buddhists originate from China and | | | | place of prayer is clean and to keep the body clean |
| Tibet and worship in pagoda styles buildings. These | | | | while praying. |
| temples contain a set of prayer wheels, cylinders | | | | All Muslim men are expected to go to the mosque |
| with prayers inscribe don them. Turning the wheels is | | | | for midday prayers on Friday, where the Iman |
| believed to carry the prayers to all parts of the | | | | delivers his sermon. This is given in two parts, firstly |
| world. Many Mahayana Bhuddhists go to the temple | | | | he deals with matters of everyday life and secondly |
| to ask questions about the future. They do this by | | | | then discusses a passage from the Quran. |
| throwing two pieces of red wood onto the ground. | | | | Sikhism |
| Depending on how the pieces of wood land, the | | | | Sikhs worship in a temple called a gurdwara. In the |
| person takes a piece of paper or wood from a | | | | centre of the gurdwara is a throne known as a takht |
| drawer and hands it to a priest who informs them of | | | | which is covered with a canopy. The Sikh holy book, |
| the answer. | | | | the Guru Granth Sahib is placed on this throne. On |
| Hinduism | | | | entering the gurdwara the worshippers remove their |
| The most important place of worship for a Hindu is | | | | shoes. They then place money, food or a romalla (a |
| his home where they will have a room or a corner of | | | | cloth to cover the Guru Granth Sahib) in front of the |
| a room dedicated for worship. Traditionally they will | | | | takht. The men wear turbans and the women wear |
| place pictures or statues of their favourite gods or | | | | silk scarves while worshipping cross-legged. Men and |
| goddesses. | | | | women must sit apart. The leader of the worship, |
| Carrying out the morning worship is the responsibility | | | | the Granthi reads from the Guru Granth Sahib. Hymns |
| of the woman of the household. After praying she | | | | are sung and this is followed by a sermon, more |
| will offer flowers, incense, light and food to the gods. | | | | singing, readings and prayers. The service is given in |
| She will also dress a statue.This food is then eaten | | | | Punjabi. |
| by the family. In the evening the light is lit and the | | | | At the end of the service everyone shares karah |
| whole family gathers to pray. | | | | parshad, a mixture of semolina, ghee, sugar and flour |
| Hindus also worship in temples. These temples house | | | | to show that they are all equal. |