Cincy MultiFaith Calendar

Paitishahem Gahambar (Zoroastrian)
2022-09-12 - 2022-09-16
Paitishahem (literally: bringing in the harvest) Gahambar is a harvest seasonal festival. It is considered a religious duty to participate in a communal jashan prayer ceremony; as well as, fraternize and share a simple meal with fellow co-religionists from all walks of life, rich and poor.
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Feast of Izzat / Might (Baha'i)
2022-09-08
Wherever they live, Baha’is gather every 19 days for what we call a Feast. This is a members-only event comprising three parts:
1. A spiritual portion that’s the time for prayer and reflection;
2. A business portion for consultation about administrative issues (plans for forming classes, organizing to perform community service, observing holy days, or any ideas or projects community members wish to discuss. It’s also a time when local members can ask their Local Assembly to forward their concerns to the National Assembly;
3. A social portion that can consist of anything from just glasses of water to a full-course dinner.

Parkash of Guru Granth Sahib (Eternal Guru) (Sikh)
2022-09-01
This day celebrates Gobind Singh Ji’s passing on guruship to Scripture, henceforth known as the Guru Granth Sahib.
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Traditional Greeting: “Vadhaaiaa Ji” – Congratulations!

Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu)
2022-08-31
This is a 10-day festival, also called Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi, that celebrates the birth of Ganesha, the elephant-headed god. The festival is marked by the installation of clay idols of Ganesh privately in homes, or publicly on elaborate pandals (temporary stages) with ornate statues. Hymns, prayers, and fasting are typical practices during this festival. On the tenth day, the festival ends with a public procession to a nearby river or ocean and immersion of the idols and statues. In Mumbai alone, it is estimated that around 150,000 statues are immersed annually.
More information can be found here.

Paryushan (Jain)
2022-08-23 - 2022-08-31
Paryushan is a time (period) for self-analysis and soul searching, for reflecting and contemplating on past conduct, in light of the teachings of Jainism and re-dedication to leading a spiritually cleaner life in the future. An important day is the last day of Paryushan (Shwetambar sect), or Saṃvatsarī (Sanskrit: संवत्सरी) (Forgiveness Day), when Jains forgive and seek forgiveness for their mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly from all the living beings.
During this period, Jains would typically greet each other by saying “Michhami Dukkadam” which essentially signifies forgiveness (both forgiving and seeking forgiveness).
More information can be found here.
To connect with the Jain community in Cincinnati and Dayton visit this website.

Khordad Sal (Parsi Zoroastrian)
2022-08-21
Birth anniversary of Zarathushtra (Zoroaster), the founder of Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrians gather in Fire temples for prayers and then celebrate with a family feast.
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Feast of Asma / Names (Baha'i)
2022-08-20

Navroze / New Year (Parsi Zoroastrian)
2022-08-16
Weeks before Navroze, homes are given a cleaning and festive foods are prepared. The arrival of the new year is celebrated by prayers at the Fire temple (Atashbehram) followed by a special meal shared with family.
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Holiday Greeting: Navroze Mubarak
Children may miss school to celebrate with families

Feast of the Assumption (Catholic)
2022-08-15
The feast day of the Assumption of Mary celebrates the Christian belief that God assumed the Virgin Mary into Heaven, body and soul, following her death.
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Pateti (Parsi Zoroastrian)
2022-08-15
Pateti (literally: penitence) is the last day of the Parsi Zoroastrian year. It is a day for a person to reflect on their thoughts, words and deeds of the previous year and to repent for those that were not good. The repentance allows dedicating the new year to good thoughts, words and deeds in a process of ethical growth.
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Raksha Bandham (Hindu)
2022-08-11
Also called Rakhi or Rakhi Purnima, this day celebrates the bonds between sisters and brothers. Sisters of all ages tie a sacred thread, called the rakhi, around the wrists of their brothers, symbolically protecting them, and in return they receive a gift from their brothers. Traditionally, brothers also promise to take a share of the responsibility for ensuring the well-being of their sisters.
More information can be found here and here.

Tisha B’Av (Jewish)
2022-08-06 18:00 - 2022-08-07 21:00 (America/New_York)
Tisha B’Av is the annual fast day commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem and the subsequent exile of the Jews from the land of Israel. Over the centuries, other tragic events have come to be commemorated on this day, including the massacres of the Crusades, the Jewish expulsion from Spain, and the Holocaust. Today in many modern Jewish communities, Tishah B’Av stands as a day to reflect on the suffering that still occurs in our world.
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Holiday Greeting: On Tisha B’Av we do not exchange greetings; we do not say “hello” or “how are you” and the like.
Observant Jews will fast, mourn and pray on this day.

Muktad or Fravardegan (Parsi Zoroastrian)
2022-08-06 - 2022-08-15
Today marks the first of ten days of commemoration, at the end of the Zoroastrian year. During this time, the community commemorates and remembers fravarshis (departed souls) with fresh flowers and a lighted oil lamp. Homes and temples are thoroughly cleaned; for it is believed that the fravashis visit the physical world during this time, to bless and protect the living.
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Lammas (Pagan)
2022-08-01
Lammas also called Loafmas or Lughnassadh, after a Celtic God Lugh, is celebrated July 31st or August 1st. The days shorten but the weather is still warm. This is the first harvest and celebrates the grains harvested for the baking of bread.
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Feast of Kamal / Perfection (Baha'i)
2022-08-01

The First of Muharram - Islamic New Year (Islam)
2022-07-29 19:00 - 2022-07-30 19:00
The First of Muharram (the first month of the Hijrah Calendar) commemorates the migration of the prophet to Madina and the start of the new Islamic state.

Jashan-e Amardad (Zoroastrian)
2022-07-25
Jashan-e Amardad is a celebration ceremony, a Jashan, performed on Amardad day of Amardad month, in honor of Amardad, a Pehlavi name derived from the ancient Avestan term “Ameretat” from the Gathas of Zarathushtra. Ameretat, according to Zarathushtra, is that attribute of Ahura Mazda
which represents “deathlessness” and “immortality.” Together with Haurvatât, it is the ultimate goal and represents the completion of our evolutionary development and the final achievement of our life on earth. It reminds a Zoroastrian that when mankind collectively will live their lives with complete
righteousness in their thoughts, words, and deeds, our world will achieve immortal/eternal happiness and peace, and will become completely free of all evil – it will become perfect – like the kingdom of God on Earth! In later Zoroastrian religious history, the wise men/priests associated Amardad to be the steward/guardian of the plant kingdom in the world. Plants/vegetation on Earth is the longest living of all of God’s creation, and hence the Zoroastrians associate it with God’s attribute of eternity/immortality. Due to our immense reverence for nature and plants, protecting nature from pollution and keeping it pure and prosperous for everyone in the world is our religious duty.

Guru Purnima Honoring Line of Teachers (Vedanta)
2022-07-24
July 24th marks the Guru Purnima Honoring Line of Teachers in the Vedanta tradition.
Learn More:
https://www.vedanet.com/guru-purnima-spreading-the-message-of-indias-gurus/

Pioneer Day (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
2022-07-24
Pioneer Day commemorates the arrival of the first group of Latter-day Saint pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley, on July 24, 1847. In Utah it is an official state holiday, and the associated celebration, including a parade, is referred to as Days of ’47. It is a time for recognizing all people who have contributed to building the state, regardless of religion or background.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/2010/07/to-the-point/what-is-the-significance-of-pioneer-day-is-it-celebrated-all-over-the-church?lang=eng

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1Bv60HRR38

Birth of Guru Harkrishan (8th Guru) (Sikh)
2022-07-23
Guru Harkrishan is the eighth and youngest of the Sikh Gurus. In 1663, Guru Harkrishan was in Delhi when the cholera and smallpox epidemic broke out. He served and tended to the sick with complete love and devotion at the young age of seven. Soon after, he became sick himself and passed away at the age of eight.
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Traditional Greeting: “Vadhaaiaa Ji” – Congratulations!

Feast of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (Catholic)
2022-07-14
Informally known as Lily of the Mohawks, St. Kateri Tekakwitha is the first Native American saint in the United States. It is said that after her death, the marks on her face from smallpox faded away. St. Kateri Tekakwitha is the patroness of ecology and the environment, as well as people in exile and Native Americans.
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Asalha Puja (Buddhism)
2022-07-13
Asalha Puja means to pay homage to the Buddha on the full moon day of the 8th lunar month (approximately July). It commemorates the Buddha’s first teaching: the turning of the wheel of the Dhamma (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta) to the five ascetics at the Deer Park (Sarnath) near Benares city, India. Where Kondanna, the senior ascetic attained the first level of enlightenment (the Sotapanna level of mind purity).
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Feast of Kalimat / Words (Baha'i)
2022-07-13

Martyrdom of the Bab (The Bahá’í Faith)
2022-07-10
Commemorates the anniversary of the execution of the Bab (Siyyid Ali-Muhammad), the Herald of the Baha’i Faith by firing squad on July 9, 1850 in Tabriz Iran
Work is to be suspended and children excused from school.
More information:
https://www.bahai.us/commemoration-of-the-martyrdom-of-the-bab/

Eid al-Adha (Islam)
2022-07-09 20:00 - 2022-07-10 20:00
This holiday marks the completion of the Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca and is observed by Muslims to commemorate the faith of Abraham. Students will miss school to attend congregational prayers at the mosque and celebrate the holiday with their families/friends.
More Information:
Eid al-Adha 101
Islamic Networks Group
Holiday Greeting: “Eid Mubarak! (Happy Eid)”

Annual Tribute to Vivekananda (Vedanta)
2022-07-04
July 4th marks the annual tribute to Vivekananda.
Learn More:
https://vedantasociety.net/vivekananda

Jashan-e Tiragan (Zoroastrian)
2022-07-01
A mid-summer festival honoring water and rain. It is celebrated by splashing water on friends and family. It is also associated with the legend of the arrow.
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Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (Catholic)
2022-06-29
Today is the feast celebrating the martyrdom of two of the most important apostles, Peter and Paul, the founders of the Christian Church.
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Maidyoshahem Gahambar (Zoroastrian)
2022-06-29 - 2022-07-03
Maidyoshahem (literally: Midsummer) Gahambar is a seasonal festival celebrated on the summer solstice. It is considered a religious duty to participate in a communal jashan prayer ceremony; as well as, fraternize and share a simple meal with fellow co-religionists from all walks of life, rich and poor.
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Sacred Heart of Jesus (Catholic)
2022-06-24
Today is a Solemnity – a Feast of the highest rank in the Roman Catholic Church – celebrating the love of Jesus Christ for all humankind. It is celebrated the Friday after Corpus Christi Sunday.
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