Culham Institute: Calendar of Festivals

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September 2010
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		Janamashtami / Krishna Jayanti The birthday of Krishna is widely celebrated by Hindus. Many will fast till midnight, the time of Krishna's birth, when he is welcomed with singing, dancing and sweets. In some homes and temples an image of the baby Krishna is put in a cradle and special sweets are offered and distributed. Ealing Grid for Learning: Janamashtami.
5 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.
5 - 12 September		Paryushan Eight days of intensive fasting, devoted to study, prayer and meditation, concluding with a period of confession and forgiveness. Often monks will be invited to give teachings from the Jain scriptures. Paryushana means 'to stay in one place', which signifies a time of reflection and repentance. The practice was originally primarily monastic. Wikipedia - Paryushana.
9 September		Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year's Day 5771 Rosh Hashanah 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.
10 September		Eid-ul-Fitr Eid-Ul-Fitr marks the breaking of the fast for Muslims at the end of Ramadan. Lasting three days, it is a time for family and friends to get together, for celebrating with good food and presents for children, and giving to charity. The charity of the fast - Zakat-ul-Fitr, which is paid during Ramadan, must be paid before the Eid prayer. 'Eid Mubarak' - a happy and blessed Eid, is the traditional greeting. BBC Religion and Ethics - Islam: Eid ul Fitr.
18 September		Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) This is the final day of the ten days of repentance, the holiest day of the year in the Jewish calendar - 'the Sabbath of Sabbaths', and is marked with a total fast for 25 hours. The evening before and most of the day is spent in prayer, asking God's forgiveness for past wrongs and resolving to improve in the future. BBC Religion and Ethics: Judaism - Yom Kippur.
23 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.
23 September - 1 October		Sukkot The harvest festival commemorating the 40 years that the Jews spent in the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land after escaping slavery in Egypt. A temporary hut with a roof covered only with branches - called a sukkah - is used during the festival. In some warmer countries families may live in their sukkah as well as eating there. Four species of plant are used symbolically during the festival - the lulav (palm branch), the etrog (a yellow citrus fruit), the hadas (myrtle) and the aravah (willow). Sukkot on the Net.