The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life will be sharing lists of religious holidays that occur each month so that the campus community can be aware of the celebrations and honored dates.
Islam: Laylat-al-Qadr – April 6* (estimated) The Night of Decree honors the night when the first Quran verses were believed to be revealed to Prophet Muhammad from Allah. This is considered the holiest night of the year for Muslims and falls during the last 10 days of the month of Ramadan. It is believed that worship during this time will multiply your blessings that year.
Hinduism: Chaitra Navratri – April 9 – 17 This week-long celebration celebrates the Goddess Shakti and three of her avatars: Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge; Lakshmi, the Goddess of Prosperity; and Durga, the warrior Goddess. During this nine-night festival, she is remembered with prayers and fasting.
Baha’i: Festival of Ridvan – April 21* – May 3 This festival marks the time when Baha’u’llah learned his mission as the last messenger of God to the world in 1863. The word Ridvan means paradise, which refers to a Baghdad garden where he learned his fate.
Jain: Mahavir Jayanti – April 21 This religious festival commemorates the birth of Lord Mahavir, the last spiritual leader of Jainism. Believers visit temples and engage in acts of charity on this day to honor this important person in their history. His teachings of nonviolence and spiritual enlightenment are shared during sermons at religious events.
Judaism: Passover – April 22* – 30 Also known as Pesach, this is an important Jewish holiday that remembers the freedom of Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It’s observed over a seven- or eight-day period, depending on the location where it’s celebrated. A Seder meal is performed where the Exodus story is told and symbolic foods are consumed. During this time, any leavened foods are prohibited and instead, matzah (unleavened bread) is eaten to honor their quick departure from Egypt after being emancipated.
Coptic & Eastern Orthodox Christianity: Palm Sunday – April 28 Palm Sunday is considered the entry of the Lord into Jerusalem and the start of Holy Week. On the day before, believers create palm fronds by knotting them into crosses in preparation for the event.
Please note that if a holiday begins the evening before, it will be marked with an asterisk (*). These descriptions come from Diversity Resources (www.diversityresources.com)
Submitted by: Alex Hendrickson