Hindu rituals

300px|thumb|A yagna being performed by Nambudiris of [[Kerala]]

prayer ritual performed by Hindus of devotional worship

300px|thumb|Ashvamedha yajna of Yudhisthira The Ashvamedha () was a horse sacrifice ritual followed by the Śrauta tradition of Vedic religion. It was used by ancient Indian kings to prove their imperial sovereignty: a horse accompanied by the king's warriors would be released to wander for a year. In the territory traversed by the horse, any rival could dispute the king's authority by challenging the warriors accompanying it. After one year, if no enemy had managed to kill or capture the horse, the animal would be guided back to the king's capital. It would be then sacrificed, and the king wou

rites of passage described in ancient Sanskrit texts

thumb|350px|Initiation (dīkṣā) of a sacrficer (yajamāna) in a Vedic Soma-yajña

offering made into fire in Indian religions

thumb|400px|King Yudhishthira, a character in the [[Mahabharata, performs the rajasuya sacrifice]] Rajasuya () is a śrauta ritual of the Vedic religion. It is ceremony that marks a consecration of a king. According to the Puranas, it refers to a great sacrifice performed by a Chakravarti – universal monarch, in which the tributary princes may also take part, at the time of his coronation, as a mark of his undisputed sovereignty.

thumb|Nambudiri|Nambūdiri Brahmins performing śrauta homa rites

Purushamedha (or Naramedha) is a Śrauta ritual of mock human sacrifice. The Vajasaneyi Samhita-Sataphatha Brahmana-Katyayana Srauta Sutra sequence of Shukla Yajur Veda texts contains the most details.

thumb|260x260px|A Malayali girl sits with a Brahmin before the vidyarambham ceremony on Navaratri

Kaliyoottu also known as Kali natakam (literally means Kali play) is a ritualistic performing art popular in Thiruvananthapuram and Kanniyakumari districts of southern Kerala, India. It is a folk art related to the battle between Bhadrakali and the asura Darika.

Hindu rite of passage for young female

Pradosha or Pradosham (IAST: Pradoṣa) is a bimonthly occasion on the thirteenth day (Trayodashi) of every fortnight in the Hindu calendar. It is closely connected with the worship of the Hindu god Shiva. The auspicious three-hour period 1.5 hours before and after sunset is considered as the most suited and optimal time for worship of Shiva on this day. The fasting vow performed during the period is called "Pradosha vrata". A devotee should wear rudraksha, Vibhuti and worship Shiva by abhisheka, Sandalwood paste, bael leaves, fragrance, deepa and naivedya (food offerings).

Hindu ritual in East Java, Indonesia

Ninabali is a ritualistic performing art form popular in Kannur, Kozhikode districts of northern Kerala, India. It is a folk art performed by the Malaya community. This art form, which is performed in homes as part of Hinuist exorcism ceremonies, depicts the battle between Bhadrakali and the asura Darika.

Devakkoothu also spelled as Devakoothu is a ritualistic dance performed in Kerala, India. It is the only theyyam performed by a woman. This theyyam is performed in the temple Tekumpad Koolom Thayakav near Cherukunnu in Kannur district. The goddess associated with Devakkoothu is called Valliyamma because she stayed at a forest of creepers, according to myths. Devakkoothu is performed once in two years.

kind of gold ring worn by Indians

Malapulayattam also known as Chikk Attam is a tribal dance performed by the Malapulayan tribals of Idukki district in Kerala, as part of worshiping the deities Mariamman, Kaliyamman and Meenakshi in their caste-related festivals.

thumb|Thalappoli

cultural ritual in North Malabar, Kerala

thumb|The thread of Mauli tied on right arm. thumb|right|A bundle of Mauli. A kautuka is a red-yellow coloured ritual protection thread, sometimes with knots, found on the Indian subcontinent. It is sometimes called a kalava, mauli, mauli, rakshasutra, pratisara (in North India), kaapu, kayiru, charandu or rakshadhara (in South India). A kautuka is a woven thread, cord or ribbon, states the Indologist Jan Gonda, which is traditionally believed to be protective or apotropaeic.

The Somayajna () or Somayaga (ISO: ) or Soma sacrifice is a Hindu ritual. It is a type of Yajna associated with the lunar cycle, and regarded to be performed for the maintenance of the cosmic order.

thumb|Melukat at the Pura Tirta Empul thumb|A pair of visitors offering offerings prior to the Melukat at Melukat is a cleansing ritual of the mind, body, and spirit using water practiced in Bali, Indonesia. This ceremony has been passed down through generations among the Hindu community to the present day. Spiritual purification in this context means eliminating impurities within oneself. The term Melukat is derived from the Old Javanese words lukat meaning "purification". The Melukat ceremony is led by a priest and involves offerings such as prascita and bayuan, prepared with accompanying m