Festivals Calendar

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September 2008
September / October		Harvest Festival Special services are held around this time of year to thank God for his goodness, in providing a harvest of crops along with all the other fruits of society. Displays of produce are often made, usually distributed afterwards to those in need. Increasingly the emphasis is on a wider interpretation than just the harvest of the fields. RE:Quest - Festivals of the Christian Church Year: Harvest.
2 September - 1 October		Ramadan During Ramadan Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. The Muslim year is a lunar year, so Ramadan moves forward by ten or eleven days each year. Fasting (sawm) is one of the five pillars of Islam, requiring self-discipline and giving everyone some experience of deprivation. Those who are not able to fast give charity to compensate for the lost days. While children may be encouraged to fast, the full fast is not compulsory until maturity. The fast is traditionally broken each evening by taking dates and water after the custom of the Prophet. Ramadan.co.uk.
3 September		Ganesh Chaturthi The birthday of Ganesha (also Ganupati), the elephant-headed deity, seen as the remover of obstacles, is especially observed by Maharashtrians. Ganesha is worshipped by Hindus at the beginning of something new, for example taking exams, moving house or getting married. BBC Religion and Ethics - Hinduism: Ganesh Chaturthi.
28 September		Lailat-ul-Qadr The 'Night of Power' when Muslims commemorate the Prophet Muhammad receiving the first revelation of the Qur'an. Many Muslims will spend the night praying and studying the Qur'an at their local mosque. Lailat-ul-Qadr is usually celebrated on the 27th day (the night of the 26th) of Ramadan. BBC Religion and Ethics - Islam: Lailat al Qadr.
30 September		Navaratri / Durga Puja / Dusserah This Hindu festival, known by different names, is one of the few celebrated across India. Navaratri means 'nine nights', the length of the festival - the final three days being the most important. In the north of India, particularly in Bengal, the goddess Durga is worshipped on the eighth day. Ahmedabad on Internet: Festivals - Navratri.
30 September		Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year's Day 5769 Rosh Hashana marks the beginning of ten days of repentance and self-examination during which God sits in judgement on every individual. The shofar (ram's horn) is blown in the synagogue as a reminder of Abraham's sacrifice of a ram instead of his son, Isaac. Chabad.org - Rosh Hashanah.

[Last updated: 04/06/08]