The place of worship for Hindus is called the Temple. People following Hinduism, visit the Mandir (temple) when they want to pray to the deities or perform the ‘puja’ (worshiping the Hindu deity).
Mandir is a Hindu building or Hindu temple constructed for communal worship. The Mandir is dedicated to different deities and is the focal point of religious life. Hindus give a lot of importance to God’s home called the Mandir. The harmonium, two headed drum (Mridanga) and finger cymbals (Kartals) are some of the instruments used commonly during worship.
Hindus dedicate a special place in their homes for the shrine of particular gods and goddesses, so that they can worship the deity at home every day. The shrine could be a statue, picture of photo frames of the deity or deities, a small altar or a room allotted for the Puja. Members of the family get together to pray.
Offerings are made to the statue or Murti at the shrine or the temple. The sacred statue of the god or goddess is termed as Murti. During the weekend or on specific days, devotees gather together to pray and worship the deity.
During worship, the names and mantras of their favorite goddesses and gods is repeated by the worshippers. Stories of the Hindu gods are also performed in the premises of the Mandir, sometimes by worshippers. Devotees also sing devotional songs etc. as a form of worship.
