1. Hinduism By: Alannah, Lakita, Darin, Alan, & Stephanie

8. Biography By: Alan Tsui

9. Hinduism is the is the world’s third largest religion and was originated in India. It goes back to about 5000 years and over 800 million people living in India are Hindus. 13% of the world is Hindus. Hinduism is different than many other religions because this religion was not begun by one person or one creator. It was developed over thousands of years by many different people. They believe that Hinduism is not a religion, but a way of life.

10. The development of Hinduism has been influenced by many invaders. Thousands of years ago. The northern part of India was raided and taken over by invaders. The invaders had a different religion than the Indians and they had brought it with them. Over the years of the two different religions living together. They started to combine together into one religion. They still had the same gods, but they added on to them. After some years, the Hindus became unsatisfied and wondered if the other religions would be better. They heard of about Buddha and their religion. Soon, everyone in India became Buddhist. Some teachers and other few people that believed in Hinduism started telling stories and lessons. People started to see the clear picture and started becoming Hindus again. India has also been invaded by Muslims before who brought the religion Islam with them. They did not like the Hindus and their religion so they started to destroy the sacred Hindus temples. The Muslims ruled India for 300 years. In spite of many attacks on Hinduism by varied invaders, in spite of rumors of decay and disarray, Hinduism has outlived all announcements of its impending demise.

11. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a very important Hindus person. He was born in Oct.2 1869. Gandhi faced discrimination against Indians. Gandhi first employed non-violent civil disobedience while an lawyer in South Africa, during the resident Indian community's struggle for civil rights. After his return to India in 1915, he organized protests by peasants, farmers, and urban concerning excessive land-tax and discrimination. After laborers assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns to ease poverty, expand women's rights, build religious and ethnic amity, and increase economic self-reliance. Above all, he aimed to achieve independence of India from foreign domination. Gandhi famously led his followers in the Non-cooperation movement that protested the British-imposed salt tax with the 400 km Dandi Salt March in 1930. Later, in 1942, he launched the Quit India civil disobedience movement demanding immediate independence for India. Gandhi spent a number of years in jail in both South Africa and India. He died in 30 January 1948 (aged 78). His death was caused by an assassination.

12. Beliefs The gods of the Hindu religion Beliefs Shiva Ganesha By: Lakita Schmunk

16. Shiva Ganesha and Parvati Shiva is the evil god of destruction in the universe. His most common weapon is his trident. It is the symbol of destruction. Shiva has a third eye on his forehead that represents knowledge. He is most seen riding his huge bull called Nandi. His wife is Pavarti. Parvati is known and worshiped as the kind gentle mother goddess. In other forms she can be cruel and terrible. Parvati rides on a tiger and holds a weapon in each of her ten hands. Around her neck is a skull. Pravati conquers the ugliness of evil. Ganesha is the son of Shiva and Parvarti. His mother gave him the job of standing guard for the bath house. He would not let his dad in so he cut off his head. When Parvarti saw her son dead she was filled with grief. Shiva felt sympathy for his wife so he looked for another head for the child. The first one he could find was an elephant. Today, ganesha is represented as a short, pot bellied man with four arms and an elephant head.