The Hindus are a profoundly religious people their goal of life is self-realisation or the attainment of god-consciousness in this book Gurudev has explained the significance and the philosophy of many of our fasts and festivals in two aspects of these observances, he has always allowed the greatest freedom: (1) in the determination of the dates of the festival, which, as he has explained on page 53, vary, and (2) in the traditional ways of celebrating them for instance, in south India during the Durga puja they have the kolu when various idols and toys are arranged in colourful galleries before which, every evening, girls sit and sing again, in some places, there is fire-walking without the kavadi (see page 109), held in honour of Draupadi Amman who was born of fire; or in Ceylon, according to yogi Satchidananda of Ceylon, in honour of Kannaki Amman Gurudev never disturbs anyone good beliefs and customs