Welcome to TIO’s Religious Calendar

July - August 2024

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July 2024

Wednesday, July 3

• Dharma Day (Asalha Puja Day) – Buddhism
  This day commemorates the historical Buddha’s first sermon, called “Turning of the wheel of Dharma (Dhamma),” following his own enlightenment.  The following day marks the beginning of the three-month Vassa or “Rains Retreat” for Theravadin Buddhist monks and nuns.  This period is a time for training in Dharma studies, meditation practice, and giving religious services to the people.

• Jashn-e Tirgan – Zoroastrianism
  The festival of water. It is celebrated by splashing water, dancing, reciting poetry, and serving traditional foods such as spinach soup and sholezard. The custom of tying rainbow-colored bands on wrists, which are worn for ten days and then thrown into a stream, is also a way to rejoice for children. Tirgan is the fourth ancient Iranian Festival of seasons, alongside Norouz (Spring), Yalda (Winter) and Mehregan (Autumn).

Friday, July 5

• Birthday of Gurū Hargobind Sahib Ji – Sikhism
  Celebrating a renowned martial artist who was named the 6th of the 11 Sikh Gurūs (1595 – 1644 C.E.).

Saturday, July 6

• Birthday of the XIVth Dalai Lama – Tibetan Buddhism
  Celebrating the 84th birthday of His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, born in 1935 C.E. in northeastern Tibet.  The Nobel Peace Prize laureate is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan government in exile and is revered as the fourteenth in a succession of manifestations of Avalokiteśvara, the enlightened being (bodhisattva) who embodies compassion in Buddhist practice.

Sunday, July 7

• Hijra - Islamic New Year
  Al-Hijra is the Islamic New Year. It occurs on the first day of the month of Muharram, which is the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar.

• Birthday of Gurū Har Krishan Sahib Ji — Buddhism
  Guru Har Krishan Ji became famous for his wisdom. At only 5 years old, he could translate and interpret the teachings of past Gurus with ease. He was also known to open the minds and hearts of people near him. CEIE recognizes the importance of religious festivals as they cultivate culture, community, and identity.

Tuesday, July 9

• Martyrdom of the Báb – Bahá’í
  Anniversary of the martyrdom of the Báb, the forerunner of Báhá’u’lláh, in Persia in 1850 C.E.  The Báb and 20,000 of his followers were killed because of their religious convictions throughout the mid-1800’s.  Work is suspended on this day.

Thursday, July 11

• Feast Day of St. Benedict – Catholic Christianity  
  Celebrating the life of St. Benedict of Nursia (480 – 547 C.E.), the founder of Western Christian monasticism whose Rule is still widely read and practiced even now.

Friday, July 12

• Anniversary of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö – Buddhism [Tibetan tradition]
  A celebration of the Tibetan lama (ca. 1893 – 1959) whose mastery of several lineages and insights have had a profound effect on numerous currently teaching lamas.

Saturday, July 13

• Kalimát – Bahá’í
  The beginning of the seventh month of the Bahá’í year, meaning “words.”

Sunday, July 14

• Feast Day of St. Kateri Tekakwitha – Catholic Christianity and Native American spirituality
  Celebrating the life and ministry of Kateri Tekakwitha (1656 – April 17, 1680), a Mohawk-Algonquin woman who is the first Native American to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church.  She was so recognized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, over three hundred years after her death.

Monday, July 15

• St. Vladmir the Great Day – Christianity
  The Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Lutheranism, and Eastern Orthodoxy celebrate the feast of St. Vladimir the Great. He was born about 958 and died on July 15, 1015.

Wedneday, July 17

• Chaturmas – Hinduism and Jainism
  This day marks the beginning of a four-month period (ending in November) during which time devotees observe some form of vow.  Penance, fasting, and other religious observances mark this period.  It is considered an inauspicious time for weddings or thread ceremonies.

• Day of Ashura
  This marks the tragic 'Battle of Karbala' in which the 7th-century revolutionary leader Husayn ibn Ali was killed. Millions of Muslims across the world observe the day of Ashura to remember Husayn's sacrifice and dignified stance on social justice

Sunday, July 21

• Gurū Purnima – Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism
  This day celebrates the ancient Hindu sage Krishna Dvaipayana, also known as Veda Vyāsa, who is credited as the compiler of the sacred Vedas, the author of the Eighteen Puranas (supplementary texts), and credited with writing the Sanskrit epic Mahābhārata.  The term “gurū” refers to a teacher or remover of darkness.  Jains and Buddhists also mark this day as an opportunity to thank their teachers.

• Asalha Puja Day (Dhamma Day)
  Asalha Puja Day (Asanha Puja, Asarnha Bucha, Dhamma Day) occurs on the full moon of the eighth lunar month, which is usually in July. It commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon after his enlightenment and the founding of the Sangha - four noble truths. The day is observed by donating offerings to the temples, monks and listening to Buddha’s sermons. One important activity is chanting the scriptures telling of this event in the original Pali language.

Monday, July 22

• Feast of St. Mary Magdalene – Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran Christian churches
  Also known as the Penitent, Mary Magdalene is celebrated as one of Jesus’ earliest and most faithful disciples, after being healed by him.  She is also recognized as a witness to Jesus’ death and the first recorded witness of his resurrection on Easter.

• Khordad Sal – Zoroastrianism
  The birth anniversary of the prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster), according to the Qadimi calendar.

Tuesday, July 23

• Birthday of Gurū Har Krishan Sahib Ji – Sikhism
  Marking the birth of the 8th and youngest of the 11 Sikh Gurūs (1656 – 1664 C.E.) in the Nanakshahi calendar.

• Birthday of Emperor Haile Salassi I – Rastafari
  Celebrating the birth of Ras [prince or chief] Tafari Makonnen (1892 – 1975 C.E.), who ruled as Emperor of Ethiopia from 1916 to 1974 (officially from 1930 to 1974), and who is professed by faithful Rasta believers as God incarnate.

Wednesday, July 24

• Pioneer Day – Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  Celebrated annually as the anniversary of the entry of LDS pioneers into the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, in Utah in 1847 C.E., after a historic trek across 1,300 miles of wilderness.

Thursday, July 25

• St. James the Great Day - Christian
  Saint James the Greater was one of Jesus' first disciples. James was fishing with his father and John the Apostle when Jesus came to the shores of the Sea of Galilee and called for the fisherman, who were unable to catch any fish that day, to dip their nets in the water once again.

Saturday, July 27

• Day of Ashura
  This marks the tragic 'Battle of Karbala' in which the 7th-century revolutionary leader Husayn ibn Ali was killed. Millions of Muslims across the world observe the day of Ashura to remember Husayn's sacrifice and dignified stance on social justice.

Tuesday, July 30

• Oharai-taisai – Shinto
  A purification ceremony to cleanse believers from offenses committed during the first half of the year.  A large ring of woven grasses and reeds is placed at the entrance to Shinto shrines, and people walk through the ring as a symbol of inner purification.

August 2024

Wednesday, August 1

• Kamál – Bahá’í
  The beginning of the eighth month of the Bahá’í year, meaning “perfection.”

• Lughnassadh [Lammas] – Wicca
  The harvest of first fruits, celebrating the harvest of corn and wheat. Wiccan practitioners see this time as a signal of the god Lugh’s decline of strength as the sun rises farther south each day, while the Goddess witnesses this season with sorrow and joy. It is both a somber and celebratory feast day.

Sunday, August 5

• Fravardeghan Days [Muktad] begin – Zoroastrianism
  A time of memorializing one’s ancestors in preparation for Nowruz [see August 16], according to Zoroastrians who follow the Shenshai calendar.

Saturday, August 6

• Feast of the Transfiguration – Christianity (Eastern and many Western churches)
  Celebrates the manifestation of Jesus’ divinity as God’s Son to his disciples Peter, James, and John on Mount Tabor. In Eastern churches, the celebration begins at sunset; for Western churches, this feast is marked on the following day, Tuesday, August 6th.

• Nuclear Prayer Day
  On August 6, 1945, at 8:15 AM, the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. Since then, the potential for nuclear catastrophe has grown to an unimaginable scale. In 2022, people all over the world started uniting in prayer for a world free of nuclear weapons. It was a truly moving event that reached well over 100,000 people. We hope the global reach of our prayers continues to grow with each annual Nuclear Prayer Day. We would like to invite you, your congregation, and all religions and walks of life to pray.

Saturday, August 13

• Obon – Buddhism [Ends August 16]
  A day when Buddhists make offerings to the Triple Gem—the Buddha, the Dharma [teachings], and the Sangha [monastic community]—on behalf of their ancestors. 

Sunday, August 15

• Assumption of the Virgin Mary – Christianity [Catholic churches]
  According to the Catholic Church, this day commemorates how, at the end of her life, Jesus’ mother Mary was assumed—body and soul—into heaven, where she intercedes for all believers. 

• Dormition of the Theotokos or Most Holy Mother of God – Christianity [Eastern churches]
  According to the Orthodox Church, this day marks Mary’s death and resurrection by God, as a sign to all believers of their ultimate destiny.

• Fast in honor of Holy Mother of Jesus

Wednesday, August 16

• Nowruz – Zoroastrianism
  The start of the New Year for Zoroastrians who follow the Shenshai calendar, beginning the year 1389 AY [After Yazdegird III, the last of the Persian Zoroastrian monarchs].

Friday, August 18

• Zhōngyuán Jié [Ghost Festival] – Taoism 
  According to Chinese Taoist belief, this day is when deceased ancestors visit the homes of the living. Families prepare feasts and set tables with empty chairs so that the living and the dead can share the meal together.

• Ullambana – Buddhism
  A day when Buddhists make offerings to the Triple Gem—the Buddha, the Dharma [teachings], and the Sangha [monastic community]—on behalf of their ancestors.  

Sunday, August 19

• Narali Purnima or Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan – Hinduism
  Celebrating the end of monsoon season, marked by throwing coconuts to Varuna, the sea god. During this festival, girls and women tie amulets on their brothers’ wrists for protection against evil.

Monday, August 20

• Asmā’ – Bahá’í
  The beginning of the ninth month of the Bahá’í year, meaning “names.”

• Khordad Sal – Zoroastrianism (Shenshai)
  The birth anniversary of the prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster), according to the Shenshai calendar.

Thursday, August 25

• Arbaʽein – Shia Islam [through August 26]
  Arbaʽein is a Shia Islamic religious observance that occurs forty days after the Day of Ashura. It commemorates the martyrdom of Al-Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad, who was martyred on the 10th day of the month of Muharram.

Saturday, August 31

• Paryushana Parva – Jainism [through September 7]
  The beginning of an eight-day festival that is considered a holy convocation by Jains. Believers impose restraints on their daily activities by fasting, meditation, and prayer. The last day of Paryusana is called Samvatsari and is a solemn occasion for examining one’s thoughts and feelings, and for asking forgiveness for offenses committed against others through deeds, words, or thoughts.

Header Photo: Pexels