The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1014 page)

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Authors: John Bowker

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Holy water
.
In Christian usage, water which is blessed for use in certain rites, especially that which is blessed at the
Easter
Vigil for baptism of
catechumens
.
Holy Week
.
The week preceding
Easter
, observed in liturgical churches as a period of remembrance of, and attachment to the
passion
of Christ.
Holy Year
.
A year during which the pope grants, subject to particular conditions, a plenary
indulgence
, the so-called Jubilee, to all those who visit Rome. A
bull
specifies the particular purposes of the year and the conditions and benefits associated with it.
Homa
.
The making of an oblation, in Hinduism, to the gods by throwing
gh
ta
and other offerings on the sacrificial fire. This is particularly important in the effecting of the major
sa
sk
ras
, e.g.
marriage
.

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