RELIGION

There are a ton of religions on Paradis because of its large immigration population, but the main religion that is practiced is by the natives.

Name: Ahanaism

Followers call themselves Ahanians

Has a singular God, Ahana, meaning inner light, the First Sun,God of all, but mainly an emphasis on light, goodness, etc. (like the christian god, basically)

BASIC BELIEFS AND TRADITIONS

* People believe in the story of Uma and Ne, and use it as an explanation of why it is always day on paradis, and then night for a week

* On the 4th Night on the Night of week, Paradisians lift little star lanterns into the sky with pieces of paper written on them describing their dreams. They hope that Ne in heaven can see their dreams just as he saw Uma’s and make them come true.

* On the 7th night, the Paradisians lift red lanterns into the sky. They have papers on them detailing their regrets and their misdeeds against others. Symbolizes how Uma and Ne’s selfishness killed their family.

* On the last night, it is known as the Night of Sin. Uma sinned against Ahana but she hid it from him in the dead of night. Paradisians celebrate this entire day of darkness with acts of debauchery

* Throughout the entire week celebrations are held, celebrating Uma giving all Paradisians the gift of defiance and free will.

* One of the most favorite parades is when they hold a mock wedding on the 1st night, and betrothement during the 1st day, symbolizing the union of Ne and Uma. They choose a Kana girl and a Naki boy to have a mock marriage and celebrate the entire night.

STORY OF CREATION

Ahana created Paradis, a land that he hoped to fill with love for his children. Ahana created Kema in the hopes of creating something good. Kema was made to be his helper, but he was defiant in all ways. Every time Ahana tried to make something, Kema would destroy it. Ahana tried to outsmart Kema by making two of everything. Ahana made two stars(the two suns of Paradis). Kema destroyed one of them, and angered Ahana. Ahana was tired of his destruction. Ahana decided to punish Kema for his defiance.

Ahana fought the demon of destruction, Kema. He could not defeat him, so he trapped him into a cage, by using his own horn. He drilled a hole into it and stuck Kema inside it. Sometimes Kema would scream so loud for his release, blood would spurt from the top of Ahana's horn( a volcano). From Ahana’s own blood he spilled to make the ocean deep and vast, and to forever trap Kema underneath, unable to find his way to the shore (explanation of land).

Ahana was afraid that one day Kema might break loose from his cage in the ocean, so he made friends of the sea, the Kana. They would forever live in the sea and never leave, to make sure Kema would not destroy the good works Ahana had made.

Ahana was lonely because he could never visit the Kana. He was afraid if he entered the ocean Kema’s wrath would spill out again, and his blood would drown them both. Ahana decided to make friends of the land, the Naki. Ahana loved the Naki and Kana dearly and made them their own friends of the land(land animals and birds), friends of the sea(fish and sea animals).

However the Kana were jealous of the Naki. Ahana would come often to visit, and the Naki would see him everyday, but the Kana could not see him, because he was too far away.

One day Uma decided to go to land. She was curious about the land that Ahana visited everyday, but never the sea. The land must be a great place if Ahana came every day. But she knew that going onto land was dangerous, all her elders told her so. There was no water, and she would die. So Uma got all her brothers to help her with her task. They dug into the shoreline slowly everyday, creating rivers into the land. Uma was quite pleased with herself, and now could look upon the land that Ahana loved so dearly.

Ahana saw this and he was not pleased. He felt that Uma had ruined his work. He decided to forgive her because she was young and did not know the ways of god.

But looking was not enough for Uma. She could pop her head out over the water and gaze upon the land, but she wanted to walk upon it. Uma asked her brothers for help but they told her no. They feared death from the land, and the wrath of Ahana. Uma then came up with another idea. She wrapped her body in seaweed so she would not dry out, and came upon the land.

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Uma loved the land and all its fantastical creatures, and she wanted to bring them back with her, but none could go. Ahana had separated the land and the sea forever, so her friends of the land could never visit. This filled Uma with great sadness. She cried and wailed great tears.

Ahana was very upset with Uma, but decided she had learned her lesson once he saw her many tears.

A man heard Uma’s cries and wails and he came upon her. Ne was a tall and proud man, who showed little emotion. He prided himself in his strength. When he came upon Uma and her many tears, her sadness swayed him, and her beauty mesmerized him. Ne tried to help Uma with her problem to stop her tears. Uma lamented to Ne, “I cannot bring anything to the sea with me, for they are not allowed. What can I do”? Ne told her to come back to the very same spot by the river the next day, and he would solve her problem. Uma dried her tears and promised she would return.

Ne went to work finding a creature that could live on land and live in the sea. He looked all over the land but could not find one. He asked his sister Se, for help in finding a creature that could live on land and sea. Se suggested that if he wanted a creature that could live on the land and the sea, why don't he just make one. Ne thought this idea was ridiculous, how could one make another creature. Se informed him that Ahana gave them domain over all creatures of the land, so he could if he really tried.

Ne thought about how to make a creature breathe on land and sea, and the idea finally came upon him. He got a bucket and returned to the river. Near the river he could find the tears of Uma, and all her dreams within it. He took the pail of Uma’s dreams and poured it over a creature near the river. It changed shape into a seal. Pleased with himself, he took some water for the river, and brought the seal into town. Everyone was impressed with Ne and his cunning.

The next day Ne brought Uma the seal. Uma was delighted with the seal and was overjoyed. She kissed Ne and told him she was so grateful for what he had none. No one had believed her when she returned to the sea about the creatures she had seen, but now she could bring one back with her. Ne told Uma that he wished he could come to the sea with her, and make her his wife. Uma was ecstatic about the idea of having a husband as cunning and strong as Ne. So she promised herself to him and would return the next day.

Ahana saw all of this and was even angrier. The Kana were supposed to stay in the sea to stop the destruction of all of his good works.

Ahana decided to punish Uma and Ne. Ahana sent a strong wave onto land, and it swept away Ne’s sister, Se. Ahana sent a large gust of wind into the sea, creating a cyclone, and it killed all of Uma’s brothers. Ne and Uma were saddened by the loss of their family. This however did not deter their love. When Uma went onto land the next day, she told Ne this:

“There is a time when Ahana sleeps. Everyone has to sleep. We shall wait for the night to come and we can wed each other under the moon”.

Ne told her she was the smartest woman and the sea, and was pleased to have her as his wife. So they kissed and fared each other well.

Ahana saw this and was furious. So he took the fragments of the old sun that Kema had destroyed and made a second one. Now the moon would never appear, no one would ever sleep, and they could never wed.

Ne waited patiently for the sun to set but it never did. Uma came many times to the land to check if the sun had set but it never did. Uma cried a great many tears when she realized that night time would never fall. She did not want to live without Ne, for he was the kindest, most hard working man she had ever met. He had made a creature, just for her. “Please Ahana”, begged Uma. “He is a good and kind man. Why do you deny me so?”

Ahana was not moved by her tears. He was upset that he had defied him after he had given her many chances.

Uma decided that she was tired of crying and decided to get rid of both the suns in defiance of Ahana. “How could he love them more than his children”, wailed Uma. Uma swam to the deepest depth of the ocean until she found Kema, slumbering deep inside his prison. Uma awoke him, and he stirred, screaming, blood pouring out of the horn of the sea.

Uma told him that she would free him if he would destroy the suns so she could marry Ne. Kema agreed to do this. He too was angry with Ahana, and did not like anything that he had made. Uma freed him from his prison, and Kema kept good with his promise. He destroyed the two suns and enraged Ahana.

Once Ne saw that it was finally nightfall he met with Uma at the river bank. They married each other underneath the dark of night and made love. Ahana tried to make another sun, but before he could, Kema destroyed it. For 6 days and 6 nights, Uma and Ne met at the river bank, promising to be together forever. After trying and failing to make even one sun, Ahana decided that he had to defeat Kema first, and then he could make his suns. For an entire day, Kema and Ahana fought, and the entire night was dark. Uma saw her chance to finally give birth and she did. Her children could walk upon the land and the sea, and Ne was impressed by the power of his seed.

After Ahana finally trapped Keme in the horn of the sea, he created the two suns again. Uma and Ne were distraught that they could no longer love each other under the cover of the night. Uma promised Ne that she would break Kema free again, and come visit him. Kema hid from Ahana in the ocean, in its deepest depths so he could not find her. Ne hid in the deepest darkest forests of the land, so Ahana could never find him.

Every now and then, Uma finds the new prison that Ahana had built, and frees him, repeating the week of love she can spend with Ne.