Vaisakhi – Khalsa Day (Sikh)

On Vaisakhi in 1699, the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, established the initiated community of Sikhs, the Khalsa, through the Amrit ceremony and became initiated himself too. Vaisakhi holds great significance in the history of the community. Sikhs acquire their formal, distinct identity from this day onward. The identity includes the unique physical appearance and […]

Mahavir Jayanti (Jain)

Mahavir Jayanti is the anniversary of birth of the 24th and last Tirthankara for the followers of Jain religion and culture, or Lord Mahavir. The festival is celebrated to champion the cause of peace and harmony, and also spread the teachings of Lord Mahavira. A procession is carried out in the form of “rath yatra” […]

Puthandu (Hindu)

Today is Puthandu (also called Puthuvarudam or Tamil New Year). Many Hindus consider today the solar new year and mark the occasion  by thanking God/Universe for another new year and new beginnings. Traditional celebrations include an elaborate feast with 6 different tastes - sweet, sour, spice (hot), salt, bitter and ‘thuvarpu’ (like Umami). This is […]

Passover (Jewish)

Passover, known in Hebrew as Pesach, commemorates the liberation of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt. A feast called a seder is held on the first two nights. During the seder, the Exodus story is read aloud and freedom from slavery is celebrated. This is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays. More Information Holiday Greeting: Pesach […]

Theravada New Year (Buddhism)

Generally, Theravada countries such as Sri Lanka , Thai land, Cambodia, Laos, and Burma celebrate the full moon day at the end of April as Theravada new year.  Buddha’s enlightenment is also celebrated on that day.  It is celebrated again during Wesak, on the full moon day of May, as Buddha’s birthday, enlightenment and death. […]

First Day of Ridvan (The Bahá’í Faith)

1st Day of Festival of Ridvan-**(There are three holy Days as part of the Festival, the first day, the ninth and the twelfth.) The annual Baha'i Festival commemorates the 12 days when Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Faith, publicly proclaimed his mission as God's messenger. Begins at sundown on April 19 and ends at sunset […]

Holy Thursday (Christian Orthodox)

On Thursday of Holy Week four events are commemorated: the washing of the disciples' feet, the institution of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, the agony in the garden of Gethsemane, and the betrayal of Christ by Judas. You can learn more here.

Jashan-e Ardavahisht (Zoroastrian)

Jashan-e Ardavahisht is a celebration ceremony, a Jashan, performed on Ardibehest day of Ardibehest month, in honor of Ardavahisht or Ardibehest, a Pehlavi name derived from the ancient Avestan term “Asha Vahishta” from the Gathas of Zarathushtra. Asha stands for "truth, order, righteousness." Vahishta means ‘the Best’ or ‘the Highest’. So, Asha Vahishta is the […]

Golden Rule

"Everything you should do you will find in this: Do nothing to others that would hurt you if it were done to you."

- Mahabharata 5:1517

Hinduism
Hinduism