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Promoting Dignity Mutual Respect & Pluralism Holy Days & Festivals Promoting Dignity Mutual Respect & Pluralism

Hindu holidays Deity Season Historical Event Celebrated on the schedule of the lunar calendar, each event may commemorate many things.

Deity Celebrations

Shivaratri PAYS HOMAGE TO SHIVA, THE GOD OF TRANSFORMATION Fasting all day (ranges from eating only fruit to abstaining from food) Chanting his name and singing hymns all night Adorning a Shiva linga (a murti) with milk, honey, water, fruits, and leaves from certain trees Sitting in meditation with Shiva February/March

9 Ramanavami CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTH OF RAMA, AN INCARNATION OF VISHNU Some Hindus choose to fast for 9 days 9 Depicting the Ramayana through song, dance, and dramas. March/April

Krishna was born at midnight Krishna Janmashtami CELEBRATES THE BIRTH AND LIFE OF KRISHNA, THE AVATAR OF VISHNU WHO DELIVERED THE BHAGAVAD GITA Many Hindus choose to fast up to midnight They blow conches, sing Krishna’s praises, and feast on sweets at midnight Krishna was born at midnight August/September

A multiple-day festival Ganesha Chaturti PAYS HOMAGE TO GANESH, THE REMOVER OF OBSTACLES Devotees immerse murtis of Ganesh into a body of water The murtis are made of material that dissolves in the water A multiple-day festival The ritual is symbolic of the cyclical nature of time, and that even the Gods themselves will eventually dissolve August/September

The most popularly worshiped manifestations of the Feminine Divine Navaratri WORSHIPED MANIFESTATIONS OF THE FEMININE DIVINE The most popularly worshiped manifestations of the Feminine Divine Durga (the Mother Goddess), Saraswati (The Goddess of Knowledge, Speech, and the Arts) Lakshmi (the Goddess of Health, Wealth, and Prosperity) Nine-night celebration of the Feminine Divine 9 The tenth night is known as Dusshera and is marked with many festivities 10th MANY FASTS AND RITUALS ASSOCIATED WITH NAVARATRI ARE EXCLUSIVE TO WOMEN 5 Times a Year (the spring and fall celebrations are the most widely celebrated)

Seasonal Celebrations

Makara Sankranti | Uttarayana | Pongal PAY HOMAGE TO GODDESS SARASWATI, AS WELL AS TO ANCESTORS Hindus thank God for the bountiful harvest, which broadly coincides in winter Marks the transition of the Sun into Capricorn (Makara rashi) on its celestial path Pongal is widely celebrated in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka January 14th

Celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists Holi CELEBRATES TRIUMPH OVER DIVISIVENESS & NEGATIVITY AND LOVE & UNITY WELCOMES THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING AND THE HARVESTS Celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists Many celebrate by tossing colored powders in the air and using dyed water to color each other. In the evening, Hindus celebrate by lighting bonfires and eating festive foods.

Other Celebrations

CELEBRATES THE BOND BETWEEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS Raksha Bandham CELEBRATES THE BOND BETWEEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS Sisters tie a decorative sacred amulet (rakhi) on her brothers’ right wrist and pray for their protection (often including distant cousins and friends considered honorary brothers) Brothers give their sisters small tokens or gifts of appreciation August

One of the most celebrated Hindu festivals Diwali | Deepavali COMMEMORATES THE VICTORY OF GOOD OVER EVIL The light from these lamps symbolizes the illumination within the individual The word refers to rows of earthen lamps celebrants place around their homes One of the most celebrated Hindu festivals October/November

Diwali, the festival of lights Key takEaways HINDUS FESTIVALS ARE very diverse and vary by region and tradition Diwali, the festival of lights is one of the most widely celebrated Hindu festivals

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