MEETING GOD:
Elements of Hindu Devotion

AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
New York City, New York
September 8, 2001 - March 31, 2002

Household Worship

At the heart of every Hindu home is its shrine - the sacred space for honoring and worshiping the Gods. Household Worship features sacred objects such as embroidered door hangings and other textiles, paintings, holy water vessels, incense sticks, prayer beads, photographs, and two re-created shrines to reveal the personal rituals performed by family members at their household shrines.

The rituals that take place in the home are the basis for all family actions and decisions. The two re-created household shrines in this section, along with a variety of other shrines throughout the exhibition, honor a range of household deities and give visitors personal insights into the experience of worship in the home in India. Built as interactive displays, the shrines are not consecrated, so visitors are free to open the doors and examine the interiors.