Because “Dothead” describes the experience of an American teenager whose family observes some Hindu customs, it is useful to learn more about Hinduism in general and its presence in the United States. Hinduism is the world’s third-largest religion, after Christianity and Islam, with over 1.16 billion followers, more than 15% of the global population. It is practiced around the world, but most Hindus live in India, where they comprise nearly 80% of the country’s population. Nepal and Mauritius are the other two countries in which Hinduism is the dominant religion. Some predominantly Muslim countries, like Pakistan and Bangladesh, also have large Hindu communities. Approximately 2.23 million Hindus live in the United States. (The stats come from “Hindu Countries 2021.” World Population Review.)

Hinduism is a diverse system of religious, philosophical, and mythological concepts, ideas, and practices. There are several denominations within Hinduism, each with its own rituals and interpretations of Hindu sacred texts and traditions. There are disagreements about whether Hinduism should be seen as monotheistic (belief in one God) or polytheistic (belief in multiple gods). There are numerous gods and goddesses in Hindu mythology, though many of them are incarnations of major gods, like Shiva, Vishnu, and Kali.