Quick Facts and Stats Summary: Hindu Chariot procession, specifically the procession of Lord Jaganath, his elder brother and younger sister, to Lord Jaganath’s birthplace and the temple of their Aunt in Puri in the Indian state of Odisha 2019 Date: July 4th, date varies Celebrated by: Hindus, Indians especially in the East of the subcontinent. […]
Quick Facts Summary: a celebration of the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere 2020 Date: 21st June (exact timing depends on location) Celebrated by: Numerous cultures worldwide, modern pagans Linked Holidays: December Solstice, Wiccan Wheel of the Year festivals, Feast of St John the Baptist Background and […]
Quick Facts and Stats Summary: Hindu celebration of the Birth of Lord Ramachandra, the Seventh Avatar of Vishnu. 2020 Date: 2nd April Celebrated by: Hindus Linked Holidays: Maha-Shivaratri, Ratha Yatra, Kalashtami, Navaratri. Background and Theological Significance Central to Hindu theology is the concept of divinities returning again and again in different forms or Avatars. In […]
Quick Facts and Stats Summary: Christian celebration of the Angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary to tell her she is pregnant with Jesus. 2020 Date: March 25 Celebrated by: Christians Linked Holidays: Epiphany, Christmas, Pentecost. Background and Theological Significance The theological significance of the festival for Christians is twofold. The first is the fact that Mary […]
Quick Facts and Stats Summary: Hindu celebration of Spring, Love, and Forgiveness 2020 Date: March 9th – 10th Celebrated by: Hindus, Indians Linked Holidays: Diwali, Lohri, Easter Background and Theological Significance Holi is an ancient festival from the Indian subcontinent that traditionally marks the arrival of Spring and the end of Winter. The celebrations are […]
Quick Facts and Stats Summary: Christian Festival marking the beginning of Lent, a period of penitence leading to Easter. 2020 Date: February 26th Celebrated by: Christians, especially Western Christians. Linked Holidays: Easter, Lent, Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Carnival, Palm Sunday, Ramadan Background and Theological Significance One of the most enduring symbolic practices of Ash Wednesday […]
Quick Facts and Stats Summary: A Festival dedicated to the god Shiva. 2020 Date: 21st February Celebrated by: Hindus Linked Holidays: Ram Navami, Janmashtami, Raksha Bandhan. Background and Theological Significance Maha-Shivaratri, ‘The Great Night of Shiva’ is the most important night of the year for the worshippers of Shiva. The day before each month’s New […]
Quick Facts and Stats Summary: Festival marking the death of Buddha, his achievement of Parinirvana, final enlightenment. 2020 Date: 15th February Celebrated by: Buddhists, particularly Mahayana Buddhists Linked Holidays: Vesak Background and Theological Significance Nirvana is the ultimate aim for a Buddhist. Buddha himself is seen as the first to have achieved it, at around […]
