Across its colorful tapestry, Hinduism unfurls into several major sects, each spotlighting a distinct facet of the divine.

1. Vaishnavism
   • Focus: Vishnu and his avatars—Krishna and Rama—steal the show here.
   • Philosophy: Ranges from the qualified non-dualism of Vishishtadvaita (Ramanuja) to the dualism of Madhva’s Dvaita school.
   • Practices: Bhakti-centred chanting (kirtan) and temple rituals. The popularity of the Hare Krishna movement has even inspired westerners to don transcendental saffron.

2. Shaivism
   • Focus: Shiva, the cosmic dancer and ascetic, commands devotion.
   • Philosophy: Spans Kashmir Shaivism’s monistic mysticism to South India’s dualist and non-dualist streams (Shaiva Siddhanta).
   • Practices: Emphasis on yoga, meditation, and temple worship. Recent media buzz about the Maha Shivaratri festival in Varanasi shows how millions still flock for Shiva’s night vigil.

3. Shaktism
   • Focus: The Goddess in all her powerful avatars—Durga, Kali, Lalita.
   • Philosophy: Often non-dual, viewing Shakti (divine feminine energy) as the source of all creation.
   • Practices: Tantric rituals, fire offerings (yajna), and festive processions—think Durga Puja in Kolkata, which rivals Christmas lights in sheer spectacle.

4. Smartism
   • Focus: A guru-guided choice among six deities (Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Ganesha, Surya, Skanda).
   • Philosophy: Rooted in Advaita Vedanta (Shankaracharya) teaching that the individual soul and Brahman are one and the same.
   • Practices: Household worship, scriptural study, and philosophical debate. It’s more like a spiritual à la carte—choose whichever form resonates.

These sects don’t exist in isolation. Festivals overlap, deities share temples, and regional traditions weave them together like threads in a sarong. Today’s world—with online puja broadcasts, diaspora communities celebrating Holi via Zoom, and blockbuster films featuring Krishna’s antics—proves that these ancient paths continue to adapt, each offering a unique door to dharma, karma, and the ultimate quest for moksha.