AUG
SEPT (continued)
Reading story from Scroll of Esther with
celebrations of survival and gifts to others.
9th Apr
Mahavir
Jayanti
Birthday of Lord
Rama.
1st May
Twelfth
Day
of Ridvan
9th May
Narasimha
Jayanti
Lord Narasimha is a
reincarnation of Lord Vishnu,
who appeared in the form of
half lion and half man, to kill
demon Hiranyakashyapu.
4th June
Pentecost
Descent of Holy
Spirit on Jesus
Christ’s disciples
16th June
Martyrdom of Sri
Guru Arjan Dev
Sahib Ji
5th Guru of the Sikhs and
1st Sikh martyr. Built
Harmandar Sahib and
compiled Sri Guru Granth
Sahib Ji.
22nd June
Laylat
al Qadr
Night of Destiny, the
night when Angel
Gabriel brought
down the first verses
of the Qur’an to
Prophet Muhammad.
9th August
International Day
of the World’s
Indigenous People
Recognises the first UN Working Group on
Indigenous Populations meeting in Geneva
in 1982 to promote and protect the rights
of the world's indigenous peoples.
Recognises the contributions that
indigenous people make to improve world
issues such as environmental protection.
th
30 September
30th September
Vijaya
Yom Kippur
Dashami
/ Dussehra
Day of Atonement. The
One of the most
holiest day of the Jewish
auspicious days. King
calendar; Yom Kippur
Ravana was killed in
consists of a 25-hour fast
the great war by Lord
while praying with the
Rama on this day.
themes of atonement and
repentance.
Symbolises the strong
and healthy relationship
between a brother and
sister when a brother
vows for her protection.
Beginning
of 10-day
festival of
Navaratri.
1st November
All Saints Day
Honouring saints
known and unknown,
who led lives of holiness
and devotion to God.
4th November
Guru Nanak Dev
Sahib Ji Parkash
Birth of Guru
Nanak (14691539), founder of
Sikhism.
11th November
Remembrance Day
One minute silence
and services held in
memory of those who
have served and died
in all wars.
26th January
Australia Day /
Survival Day
(public holiday)
Bravery of the 40 Immortal
Ones' who protected Guru
Gobind Singh for freedom of
religious belief. These men
were blessed with Mukti
(Liberation or Salvation).
12rd March
13th March
Magha Puja
Holi
(Thai, Cambodian, Lao)
(Festival of Colours)
Commemorates the Buddha's visit to
Veruvana Monastery
25th June
Ratha
Yatra
Festival
14th Apr
Good Friday
16th Apr
Easter
23rd May
Birthday of Guru Amar
Das Sahib Ji
Celebrates birthday of the 3rd Guru
of the Sikhs. He rendered selfless
service, and took extensive steps to
promote equality of women
appointing them as missionaries.
Recognising the adoption of
Christianity through Torres
Strait Islander communities
during the late 19th Century.
25th August
Ganesh
Chaturthi
29th August
Radhastami
Commemorates the
death, burial and
ascension of the
Virgin Mary.
Birthday of Lord
Krishna, narrator
of the “way of life”
in Bhagavad Gita.
10 day festival
of Lord Ganesh
begins on this
day.
Birthday of
Goddess
Radha, consort
of Krishna
Martyrdom of Guru Tegh
Bahadur who stood for the
freedom to worship for all
religions, against Mughal
Emperor Aurangazeb.
Celebrates the birthdays of
the 2nd and 9th Guru.
25th November
Day of the Covenant
Baha'u'llah's
appointment of his
son, 'Abdu'l-Baha, as
the Centre of His
Faith.
13th February
National
Apology Day
28th May
Ramadan Begins
2nd July – 9th July
NAIDOC WEEK
Celebrating history, culture
and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
5th July
Birthday of
Guru Hargobind
5th October – 11th October
Sukkot
Feast of Tabernacles:
Fall harvest and commemorates
40 years in the desert – often
celebrated on the first and last 2
days – Last day is an opportunity
to give thanks to ancestors, and
final chance to atone for sins
committed in the last year.
Birthday of 4th Sikh Guru,
who founded the City of
Amritsar and started the
construction of the Pool in
which stands the Harmandar
Sahib – the Golden Temple.
27th November
Ascension
of ‘Abdu’l-Baha
1st December
Mawlid
an-Nabi
Passing of
'Abdu'l-Baha, son of
Baha'u'llah in 1921.
Prophet
Mohammed’s
Birthday.
Great festival of
convergence of
Shiva and Shakti.
Also considered
their wedding day.
9th July
Martyrdom
of the Báb
Execution
of the Báb
in 1850.
24th Apr
Isra and Mi’raj
9th July
Dharma Day
9th July
Guru Purnima
The Buddha’s
first Teaching.
Full Moon Day.
Birth anniversary of great sage
Maharshi Vyaas, who edited and
reconciled all the holy Vedic
Scriptures. Symbolizes GuruShishya (Teacher – Student)
tradition.
5th September
“Hungry Ghost”
Festival
(Vietnamese /
Chinese)
Start of
Great Lent
25th Apr
Anzac Day
28th Apr
Ninth Day
of Ridvan
Combined harvest festival and
celebration of the gift of Torah
23rd July
Birthday of Guru
Har Krishen
Sahib Ji
Birthday of the 8th Guru. He
became Guru at age 5. He stressed
humility and wisdom, and took
care of the sick during smallpox
epidemic in Delhi.
21st Sep –
22nd Sep
Rosh
Hashanah
(Jewish New Year)
21st September
Al Hijra
(Islamic New Year)
Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the
First day of Muharram,
10th Sikh Guru ordained the
Ancestor Day: Celebrate
Celebrates the birth
first month in the lunar
Sikh Holy Scripture as the
lives of ancestors with
of the world marked
Islamic calendar, marking
Eternal Guru of the Sikhs.
food offerings to relieve
by the sound of the
Prophet Mohammed’s
The line of human Gurus
the sufferings of the
Shofar (ramshorn),
move from Mecca to
ended and the Shabad
ghosts while the spiritual
prayer and 10 days of
Medina.
(‘Word’) became the Guru.
gates are open
repentance.
th
th
st
nd
13 October
19 October
21 October
22 October
22nd Oct – 28th Oct
Simchat Torah
Diwali /
Birth of the Báb
Birth of
Deepavali
Birth of the
Baha’u’llah
A joyful holiday
Prophet-Herald of
Birth of the
celebrating the
Festival of lights over 5 days,
the Baha’i Faith,
Prophet-Founder
INTERNATIONAL
completion of annual
celebrating
victory
of
light
over
1819.
of
the
Baha’i Faith,
SPIRITUAL CARE
cycle of weekly
darkness. Can include the Govardhan
1817
WEEK
Torah readings.
Puja. Sikhs celebrate Guru Hargobind
Sahib’s release from prison. He also
secured the release of 52 Hindu kings.
Others before self.
3rd -24th December
Advent
Reflection,
repentance and
belief in Jesus
Christ.
27th Feb
Clean Monday
21st March
UN International Day
for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
(known in Australia as Harmony Day)
Commemorates passing of
Baha’u’llah, Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Faith.
Four days of the Festival
of Sacrifice as it
commemorates
Abraham’s willingness to
sacrifice his son to God;
he was replaced with a
ram.
9th October
Birthday of
Guru Ram Das
Sahib Ji
25th Feb
Maha
Shivaratri
Recalling
Australian
Death and final
government’s 2008
enlightenment
apology to Aboriginal
(Parinirvana) of
Stolen Generations.
the Buddha.
18th March – 26th March
CULTURAL DIVERSITY WEEK
Birthday of the 6th Guru. Built Akal Takhat (the Immortal Throne),
and proclaimed principles of spiritual and temple authority.
31st August
1st Sep – 4th Sep
1st September
Waqfat Arafat /
Eid-al-Adha
First Parkash
Waqf al Arafa
Sri Guru Granth
(Hajj)
Sahib Ji
Season of pilgrimage to
Mecca. Islamic observance
day during Hajj when
pilgrims pray for
forgiveness and mercy.
15th Feb
Nirvana
Day
Remembering the
Night journey
Marking Baha’u’llah’s declaration of His
Holocaust.
to Jerusalem.
mission as a Messenger of God. The
Ascension of the
most important holy day and start of
Prophet Muhammad.
the twelve-day Festival of Ridvan.
27th May – 3rd June
NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK
Anniversaries of 1967 Referendum (May 27th 1967) and landmark Mabo decision (3rd June 1992)
28th May
31st May - 1st Jun
Ascension of Baha’u’llah
Shavuot
Holy month of fasting. Revelation of the Qur'an to Prophet
Mohammed. Prayers, spiritual and physical cleansing.
1st July
Coming
of the Light
15th August
Krishna
Janmashtami
Shi'a Muslims:
The day that Husayn, grandson
of Muhammad was martyred.
24th November
Martyrdom of
Guru Tegh
Bahadur Sahib Ji
18th Apr
Birthday of Guru Angad
Dev Sahib Ji & Guru Tegh
Bahadur Sahib Ji
26th May
National Sorry Day
Renewal of
reconciliation efforts.
15th August
Assumption /
Dormition
of Mary
Sunni Muslims:
The day that Moses was saved
from the Pharaoh's tyranny.
Fasting recommended.
1st Feb – 7th Feb
UN WORLD
INTERFAITH
HARMONY WEEK
UN resolution for
worldwide week of
harmony between
people regardless of
their faith.
20st March
Naw Ruz
(Baha’i New Year)
Coinciding with Spring Equinox in the Northern hemisphere.
20th April
24th Apr
First Day of Ridvan
Yom HaShoah
Day to raise awareness about the
life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal Australians
14th Apr
Vaisakhi
5th October
Pavarana /
Kathina
(Thai & Burmese)
End of rainy
season retreat for
Theravada
Buddhists
31st January
Ganesha
Jayanti
Birthday of
Lord Ganesha
17th March
National Close the Gap Day
Creation of the Khalsa Panth
(Sikh Nation, Brotherhood of
the Pure), donning 5 articles
of faith.
End of Ramadan,
celebrated with a
festive meal, charity
and good deeds.
1st October
Ashura
31th January
Birthday of Guru
Har Rai Sahib Ji
Birth of the 7th Guru of
Sikhs, Guru Har Rai. His
message is about the
care of flora and fauna,
animals and nature.
Full moon day. Beginning of
spring season in thetropics.
26th June
Eid al-Fitr
Chariot
Procession
festival for Lord
Jagannath
28th Jan – 2th Feb
Lunar New Year
Year of the Rooster
(Chinese Zodiac)
FEB
13th January
Maghi
11th Apr –
11th Apr
11th Apr
18th Apr
Hanuman Jayanti
Theravada
Pesach
New Year
(Passover)
Birthday of Lord Hanuman,
Deliverance from
the reincarnation of Lord
slavery, exodus
Shiva in the form of a Rudra.
from Egypt.
10th May
13th May
23rd May
Buddha Day /
Lailat al
Declaration
Vesak Day
Bara’ah
of the Báb
(UN observance)
Night of extra
Celebrates
worship and
announcement of His
forgiveness,
Mission in 1844 by the
followed by fasting
Báb, Forerunner of
the next day.
Baha’u’llah.
Full moon day.
21st Sep
Navaratri
12th January
Mahayana
New Year
SEPT
9th Apr
Palm Sunday
7th August
Raksha
Bandhan
NOV
12th March
Purim
First day of Lent.
40 days of fasting and
reflection leading up to Easter.
5th Apr
Rama
Navami
7th January
Feast of
the
Nativity
Eastern Orthodox
Churches using the
old Julian Calendar
celebrate
Christmas this day.
DEC
10th and final Guru of
the Sikhs; Sacrificed his
life & family for human
liberty, equality and
fraternity.
1st March
Ash Wednesday
6th January
Epiphany / Theophany
Arrival of 3 wise men to baby
Jesus. Also commemorates
Jesus’ baptism.
JULY
5th January
Birth of Guru
Gobind Singh Ji
OCT
JUN
MAY
APR
MAR
JAN
RELIGIOUS & CULTURAL EVENTS FOR 2017
8th December
Bodhi Day
Day the historical
Buddha attained
awakening,
“enlightenment”,
or “Bodhi”.
10th December
Human Rights Day
(UN Observance)
The date was chosen to honour
the United Nations General
Assembly's adoption and
proclamation (1948) of the
Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (UDHR).
13th– 20th December
Chanukah
Celebrates recapture and
rededication of the
Temple in Jerusalem in
the time of the Greeks.
Spiritual Health Victoria acknowledges that this calendar was put together on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Bunwurrong people of the Kulin Nation.
We honour all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestors and Elders past, present and to come.
Please note: Islamic & Jewish festivals begin at sundown on the previous stated day and, except for Yom Kippur (Jewish), are celebrated for 2 days.
Islamic, Buddhist & Sikh festival dates are estimated and may vary depending on sighting of the lunar crescent/moon, and are sometimes decided during the year.
Only major religious and cultural dates are included in this calendar. There may be others of importance to individuals of particular faiths or communities.
It is recommended that personal explanations and memories of traditions are sought and shared.
Calendar compiled and edited by Shinen Wong (Education Officer) & Trish Fernley (Office Administrator) | www.spiritualhealthvictoria.org.au | (03) 8415 1144 | [email protected]
25th Dec
Christmas Day
Celebrates the
birth of Jesus, holiness through
prayer and carols, themes of peace
and goodwill, and sharing of gifts.