Memorial Day Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States of America that is observed on the last Monday of the month of May to pay homage to those who lost their lives serving for the Armed Forces of the country. Initially the day commemorated the Union and Confederate soldiers who were martyred in the Civil War, but since the 20th Century the day is upheld to honor all Americans who gave their life for military service. Memorial Day in the next five years: In 2014, Memorial Day is on Monday, May 26. In 2015, Memorial Day is on Monday, May 25. In 2016, Memorial Day is on Monday, May 30. In 2017, Memorial Day is on Monday, May 29. In 2018, Memorial Day is on Monday, May 28. In 2019, Memorial Day is on Monday, May 27. Coinage and Date: Initially the day was known to be “Decoration Day” which was changed to the “Memorial Day” in 1882. However, this change was not commonly used until after the World War II. On June 28, 1968 with the passage of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, the date was altered from May 30 to the last Monday of the month of May, and in the process the official name was also declared to be Memorial Day. The law has been effective since 1971 which was adopted by all the 50 States within a course of a couple of years. History: According to beliefs, it was in the summer of the year 1865 that a local druggist by the name of Henry Welles mentioned to his friends that there should be some means to honor those men and women who went to fight the Civil War and never made it back home. Not much was achieved out of it unless Welles mentioned the idea to General John B. Murray, a Civil War hero. With the help of Murray they built up support for the cause and on May 5, 1866, the group marched to the local cemeteries to decorate graves of departed soldiers. Murray had connection with General John Logan who was an American soldier, congressman, and senator. It was Logan who issued orders in 1868 for a national commemoration. Public Life: Non-essential Government departments do not function on this day. Schools are often closed too for the occasion. No such regulation is applicable in case of retail stores or restaurants. In fact, retailers come up with huge schemes and discounts to lure buyers during this time. Public transportation system may run a little erratic though. Many people use this long weekend break to enjoy a short vacation. If the day falls on a Saturday then the federal holiday is observed on the preceding Friday; and if the day falls on a Sunday then it is observed on the following Monday. Observances: On this day the fag of the United States is raised to the top in a brisk manner and then lowered to the half mast position in a solemn fashion where it is kept that way till noon. At noon the flag is again raised to the full position where it is kept for the rest of the day. The half staff position of the national flag is to pay tribute to more than a million of men and women who never hesitated to give their life to serve the country. The full staff position of the flag is to honor those men and women living who have resolved not to let the sacrifice of those martyrs go in vain, and to stand up for any cause of the country and continue to fight to achieve liberty and justice for all. In the west lawn of the United States Capitol the National Memorial Day Concert is organized where respect is paid to the martyrs through music performance. Multiple military themed parades are held in different cities all over the country that mostly feature marching bands. Often National Guards, Servicemen, Veterans and Military Vehicles are made part of these parades. Since 1911, the day has also been associated with the auto race Indianapolis 500 which runs on the Sunday preceding the Memorial Day. Since 1961 the same day has also been selected to run the Coca-Cola 600 stock car race. Since 1976 the Memorial Day weekend has hosted the Memorial Tournament golf event. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials where departed veterans rest. In national cemeteries many volunteers place an American Flag on each of the graves of the veterans as a mark of respect. Holidays Around The World Bank Holidays 2016 Holi Easter Maha Shivaratri Good Friday Vasant Panchami Rama Navami Akshaya Tritiya Shivaji Jayanti Ratha Yatra Kartik Poornima Anant Chaturdashi Raksha Bandhan Ramzan Id/Eid-ul-Fitar Onam Janmashtami Independence Day In India Friendship Day in India Father’s Day in India Buddha Purnima Nag Panchami Gandhi Jayanti Ganesh Chaturthi Gudi Padwa Labor Day New Year 2016 January 1st – History Chinese New Year Hindu New Year Hmong New Year Islamic New Year Japanese New Year Jewish New Year Korean New Year Thai New Year Persian New Year Tibetan New Year Vietnamese New Year
Maundy Thursday Maundy Thursday is also known as the Holy Thursday since it commences on the Holy Week as per the observations of the Christian world. The day before this is known as the Holy Wednesday, while the day after Maundy Thursday is the Good Friday. From the evening of the Maundy Thursday begins the period of Paschal Easter Triduum, the three days including Good Friday and Holy Saturday that end in the evening of Easter Sunday. This period of three days are believed to commemorate the three significant factors of Jesus’ life – passion, death and resurrection. Maundy Thursday signifies the day of Jesus’ Last Supper with the Apostles as narrated in the Canonical Gospels which lead to the initiation of the Eucharist or the Holy Communion. All Christian Churches observe this day with much reverence. Maundy Thursday in the next five years: In 2014, Maundy Thursday is on Thursday, April 17. In 2015, Maundy Thursday is on Thursday, April 02. In 2016, Maundy Thursday is on Thursday, March 24. In 2017, Maundy Thursday is on Thursday, April 13. In 2018, Maundy Thursday is on Thursday, March 29. In 2019, Maundy Thursday is on Thursday, April 18. Etymology of the term Maundy: According to most scholars, the English word “Maundy” used in the name Maundy Thursday has been derived from the Latin word ‘Mandatum’ which was changed into the Middle English or Old French ‘Mandé’ finally leading to the term Maundy. Mandatum was the first word of the phrase uttered by Jesus in the Gospel of John 13:34 – “Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos”, which when translated means – “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you”. Jesus made this statement to explain to the Apostles the significance of Him washing their feet. This is the reason why during Maundy Thursday celebrations in many Churches the Priest or Bishop or Minister washes the feet of the congregation. Here the Priest or Bishop or Minister is considered to represent Jesus. Usually from the parishioners twelve people are selected for the purpose and are honored on this day. These twelve people are considered to represent the people of the parish in general. Some other scholars have opined that the name “Maundy Thursday” has its origin in the “maundsor baskets” or “maundy purses”. These contained the alms that the King of England gave to certain poor people at Whitehall before he attended the Mass on Holy Thursday. From this perspective, the scholars put forward that the word Maundy has originated from the Latin word mendicare or the French term mendier or the English expression maund , which signigy “to beg”. Public Life: In the United States, this day is not considered to be a federal holiday, as such businesses and organizations operate according to their regular schedule. The same is applicable in case of public transportation that runs as per schedule on this day. Schools and other educational institutions also operate following the normal course of routine. Some Church Schools may have special prayers or blessing services organized to mark the day. Observances: Church services are common to observe Maundy Thursday, however, the time of Service varies from one Church to another. In most Catholic Churches the special prayer services for the occasion are generally held in the evenings in memoriam of Jesus’ Last Supper with the Apostles. Communion or Eucharist is offered to the congregation. To commemorate the event of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, some Priests or Ministers perform the ritual of washing the feet of the parishioners. In keeping with the Christian belief, Holy oils are blessed. This symbolizes the fact that all these sacraments find their root in Jesus Christ. Church Choirs usually include the songs — Pange Lingua, Gloria, Ubi Caritas etc – not essentially on this day only but during the period of the Holy Week in general. In some Churches there is a tradition of offering potluck meals, usually suppers, to the congregation members after the Maundy Thursday services in commemoration of Jesus’ Last Supper. Meals on this day generally include roast lamb, wine, bitter herbs etc. Some of these meals are organized as fundraisers and the money thus generated are used for charitable causes. This is also time for the observant Christians to donate for causes or charity. Food is often offered to the poor.
Martin Luther King Day Martin Luther King Day or Martin Luther King, Jr., Day is a day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr., who was an American Civil Rights activist and humanitarian. It is observed on the 3rd Monday of the month of January each year. King’s birthday is on January 15th, 1929, but under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, the day is commemorated as stated above to regularize floating holidays. King is known for being a non-violent activist who championed civil rights. He always protested against the racial discriminations that existed in the federal and state laws of the land. After King was assassinated in 1968 there began a campaign for a federal holiday to honor King. In 1983, Ronald Reagan, the then President of the United States, signed it into a law. But the day was first observed three years later. Initially there was some resistance from few States who wanted to either rename it or club it with some other observance. Finally in the year 2000, Martin Luther King Day was observed together in all the fifty States of the United States of America. Background: Soon after the assassination of King, the Labor Unions started to negotiate contracts to promote a day in honor of King. A Bill was introduced in the Congress to make King’s birthday a national holiday by Senator Edward Brooke (Massachusetts Republican) and US Representative John Conyers (Michigan Democrat). The Bill was first produced for voting in the US House of Representatives in 1979. However, the Bill was short of five votes required for passage. The argument that was put forward by those opposing the Bill was that King never held any public office, and honoring a private citizen would contradict the longstanding tradition of the country. Also a paid federal holiday would prove to be very expensive with the passage of time. The King Center then started to build up support from the corporate community and the citizens at large. In 1980 the campaign gained momentum when musician Stevie Wonder released “Happy Birthday”. A Rally for Peace Press Conference was held in 1981. Six million signatures were collected. Finally, in 1983, the Bill was passed by President Ronald Reagan. In 1989, President George H. W. Bush made King’s wife Coretta Scott King the member of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission to oversee the observance of the occasion. Observances in the United States: Martin Luther King Day is upheld to promote the equal rights of all Americans, irrespective of racial background or creed for King, Jr. worked relentlessly against racial segregation and acts of racism. Some educational institutions opt to remain closed on this day, while others stay open to teach the students about the life, works and principles of King, Jr. Non-essential Government departments however do not function on this day. No such regulation is applicable in case of private companies, retail stores or restaurants. Public transportation system may run a little erratic though. Off late there has been a trend from the Federal Government’s side to encourage Americans to work as volunteers in citizen action groups on this day by means of legislation. Observances outside the United States: One country where Martin Luther King Day is celebrated with the same zest as in the United States is Japan. In the city of Hiroshima, Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba hosts a special banquet in the honor of the day at the mayor’s office. The aim is to call for peace in keeping with King’s principle of human rights. In the city of Toronto, Canada, Martin Luther King Day has been officially recognized although it is not a paid holiday and all services and business operate in full swing. In 1984, Martin Luther King Day was honored by Mrs. Aura Herzog, wife of Israel’s then-President Chaim Herzog. During the visit of Navy chaplain Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff to Israel, Mrs Herzog mentioned in her speech that Israel has a national forest in the name of Dr. King to honor the fact that Israel and Dr. King share similar ideologies and dreams. Holidays Around The World Bank Holidays 2019 Holi Easter Maha Shivaratri Good Friday Vasant Panchami Rama Navami Akshaya Tritiya Shivaji Jayanti Ratha Yatra Kartik Poornima Anant Chaturdashi Raksha Bandhan Ramzan Id/Eid-ul-Fitar Onam Janmashtami Independence Day In India Friendship Day in India Father’s Day in India Buddha Purnima Nag Panchami Gandhi Jayanti Ganesh Chaturthi Gudi Padwa Labor Day New Year 2019 January 1st – History Chinese New Year Hindu New Year Hmong New Year Islamic New Year Japanese New Year Jewish New Year Korean New Year Thai New Year Persian New Year Tibetan New Year Vietnamese New Year
Makar Sankranti Makar Sankranti is one of the major harvest festivals celebrated in India. It is understood that on this auspicious day Sun enters the Makar Rashi as per traditional Hindu astrology or the sign of the Capricorn. It is probably the only Hindu religious date which is fixed and is celebrated on a fixed day every year. It is believed that from this day onwards, Spring arrives after months of winter and cold. It is believed that Makar sankranti also coincides with the Winter Solstice. In 2019, Makar Sankranti will be celebrated on the 15th of January. Celebrations and Tradition of Makar sankranti in India Makar sankranti is celebrated in various forms and in different ways all across India in different states. In Andhra Pradesh and Telengana people celebrate the Makar sankranti for 4 days. The first day is known as the BHoghi, the 2nd day is known as the Makara sankranti, the 3rd day is known as the Kanuma and the 4th day is known as the Mukkanuma. People before the onset of the sankranti clean their houses and dump all unrequited things in heaps. After discarding and making a bonfire out of used and discarded things in the morning, people wear new clothes and make rangoli or the Muggu in various colors. The food that is prepared are – Bellam Apallu, Chakinalu, Nuvvula Appalu, Appalu, dappalam to name a few. On the day of the Makar Sankranti, cows and sheeps are considered to be lucky and as such are worshipped. People in coastal Andhra Pradesh abstain from non- veg food on the first 3 days of the celebration. Makar Sankranti In Bihar and Jharkhand this is known as the Makar sankranti or Khichdi. Devotees take early ritual bath in the morning and worship the sun. Special sweets are created like chura, tilgul, tilwa etc as a celebration of good harvest. On the Sankranti day people eat Khichdi, a preparation of rice, lentils cauliflowers etc. People on this auspicious day start off by putting til or sesame seeds into fire and eating dahi-chuda. In Delhi and Haryana, the farming belt and the Yadavs considers this to be perhaps the most important celebration of the year. Churma of ghee, kheer and halwa are prepared for this auspicious occasion. Brother of every married woman visits them on this day called Sidha. In Gujarat, maker sankranti is called Uttarayan. On 14th of January Uttarayan is celebrated and the next day Vasi-Uttarayan or stale Uttarayan is celebrated. This happens mostly in Surat. Kite flying is a major celebration in Gujarat on this day. Undhiyu and Chikkis are made especially for this day. In Karnataka, this is called the Suggi or the harvest festival, when girls wearing new clothes offer pleasantries in a plate and accept the same from other close family members. This ritual is known as the Ellu Birodhu. Ellu literally means white sesame seeds, with fried groundnuts, dry coconuts and bella or jaggery. This concoction is called Ellu Bella. A piece of sugarcane is also placed in this plate. In some parts of Karnataka, a newly married woman has to give away bananas in the multiples of five for five years to married women. There is also the ritual of giving Yalchi kai or red berries too. Cows and bulls are decorated and displayed in the open fields on this auspicious day. In the state of Maharashtra on the auspicious day of Makar sankranti, people exchange halwa of multiple colors and laddus made of til and gud. The mixture of til and gud signifies letting go of the past bitterness and embracing the future. Women in Maharshtra on this day are also invited for an occasion called the Haldi-Kumkum, meaning the turmeric and vermillion. On this occasion gifts such as utensils or clothes are exchanged. Women wear black sarees or black outfits on this day as black retains heat and this occasion falls on the winter. Apart from these, Ganga Sagar Snan on this day major devotees for a dip in the Bay of Bengal on Sagar Island, near Kapil Muni’s ashram in West Bengal. It is also known as Poush Parbnon when the freshly harvested paddy and date palm jaggery is used in rustling up great sweetmeats. Pitha is a famous sweet made during this time with ground rice, coconut and jaggery. There is a tradition of preparing the Makara Chula in the state of Odisha. Gods are given offerings of – newly harvested rice, banana, chhena pudding, Rosogolla etc. The Sun God is worshipped with lot of arts and cultural traditions in Konark. Special rituals are carried out in the Jagannath temple. Makara mela is organized in Dhabaleswar, in Cuttack and in Hatakeshwar at Atri. In places like Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Kalahandi, sundargarh and Koraput where there is a thriving tribal population, the observation is greater. In Tamil Nadu, this day is observed as Thai Pongal and is a 4 day celebration. The first day is known as the Bhogi, second as the Thai Pongal, 3 rd as the Maattu Pongal and the 4th day is known as the Kaanum Pongal. Uttar Pradesh witnesses the influx of devotees on this day for the first of the bathing days. Almost over 2 million people converge on Allahabad, Varanasi and Haridwar in Uttarakhand on this day. It is a compulsion and considered to be extremely pious to have an early bath in the morning. In Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh too this day is celebrated with much fanfare. Women observe a ritual of giving an object of household, make-up or food to 13 married women. Special feats called Sankranti Bhoj are also prepared. 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Mahavir Jayanti Mahavir Jayanti is the most significant festival of the Jains. It celebrates the birth anniversary of the last Tirthankara, Mahavir. He laid the foundation stone of Jainism based on simplistic principles and imbibed in human beings the values of tolerance and non violence. His birthday is believed to have been on the thirteenth day of the Indian month of Chaitra in the year 599 BC during the rising phase of the moon. In keeping with the values that Mahavir tried to instill his birth anniversary celebrations too are devoid of any grandeur or drama. Quiet ceremonies are held where his followers pay him tribute. Dates of Mahavir Jayanti in the next four years according to the modern day calendar: In 2018, the Mahavir Jayanti date is March 29. In 2019, the Mahavir Jayanti date is April 17. In 2020, the Mahavir Jayanti date is April 6. In 2021, the Mahavir Jayanti date is April 25. A brief background: Mahavira was born in a royal family in the Vaishali district, which is now located in the Indian State of Bihar, to King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala. There is a common belief that the Queen had some dreams of celestial nature during the months of her pregnancy that gave her an inkling that the baby who was about to come to the Earth was going to be a great leader. The occurrence of these auspicious dreams have been universally acknowledged by all the sects of Jains, however, as regarding the number of the dreams there is a difference of opinion. The Svetambara sect of Jains believe that the Queen had fourteen of these auspicious dreams, while the Digambara sect of Jains believe that there were sixteen. Regardless of this, the astrologers who were called upon by the King and the Queen to interpret the dreams and make a forecast were of the opinion that the child who was to be born would either become a great Emperor, or a celebrated spiritual leader. It is further believed that when the Queen finally gave birth to the child, Indra, the King of Gods, bathed the baby himself with celestial milk. This is the ritual that essentially marked the newborn as a Tirthankara (Spiritual Leader). The baby was named Mahavir, which in Sanskrit means the Great Warrior. Mahavir earned his name because of the fact that even as a little boy he could tame a terrifying serpent and bring the serpent under his control. Many other titles were also bestowed upon him, line Vira and Sanmati. In ancient texts, Mahavir has also been referred to as Nataputta which when translated means the Son of the Natas, for he belonged to the clan of the Nattas. Being born in a royal family Mahavir grew up in a lap of luxury. As to his marital status, there is confusion too. According to one set of belief, he was a celibate, while another set of people believed that he was married off very young to Yashoda, with whom he had a daughter named Priyadarshana. Mahavir reigned his kingdom with sincerity and dedication till the age of thirty. However, he had chosen penance, and as such had abstained from all the comforts and luxuries that the royal life offered him. At this age Mahavir is believed to have attained enlightenment. Then on he gave up on all things he considered superficial and redundant. He gave up wearing clothes, ate just from his hands, and focused instead on things that would actually make life more meaningful. He believed in the simple virtues of life and preached about always taking the path of truth and non violence. Much later he formulated his teachings into a religion. He named it Jainism. History is divided in opinion about when he attained Moksha. Jains believe that it happened in 468 BC, while recent scholars opine the time frame to be sometime around 425 BC. Type of Holiday in India: Mahavir Jayanti is a gazetted holiday in the Indian States of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. Local businesses, banks and transportation systems in the cities operate in full swing. However, certain institutions may opt to remain closed on this day. Observances to mark the occasion: Jains all across the world celebrate the birth anniversary of the founder of their religion with great respect. Jain temples are decorated with flags and flowers, and a high volume of visitors crowd them all day through. Since Mahavir believed in having all things simple, many Jains keep the celebrations simple and quiet, while some others believe in adding grandeur to the ceremonies. The latter category takes out processions carrying the picture of Mahavir – these processions have bands, horses, elephants etc. The former category believes in silent prayers. However, every Jain essentially visits a temple on this day to offer their prayers. At the temples special ritualistic prayers are often organized after giving a ceremonial bath to the statue of Mahavir. Many people observe fast on this day. A ceremonial sweet dish of milk, sugar and rice (kheer) is made to mark the occasion and is presented as an offering at the temple. People also make offerings of fruits, milk, rice and flowers. At the temples, or other places of gathering, lectures are held that trace the life history of the great Tirthankara and also touch upon the basic principles of his preaching. Alms are given to the needy. Apart from that donations are also collected to serve a cause that is considered to abide by Jain principles, like feeding the poor, stopping the slaughter of animals etc. There are some people who observe a Maun Vrat (Pledge to Silence) on this day. 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Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti is a day to pay tribute to acknowledge the social reforms that Swami Dayananda Saraswati brought about. Swami Dayananda Saraswati was born on the 10th day of Krishna Paksha (dark lunar phase) in the Indian month of Falgun. According to the Gregorian calendar his birthday is on the 12th of February, 1824. However, in India, the birth anniversary of Swami Dayananda Saraswati is celebrated in keeping with the Hindu calendar system, and as such, it keeps changing from one year to the next when plotted against the modern day calendar. He is noted for his socio-religious reforms and for founding the Arya Samaj. Arya Samaj was founded to break free from the Hindu custom of idol worship and ritualistic practices, and concentrate more instead on the teachings of the Vedas and the Upanishads. People celebrate his birth anniversary to remember and honor his contribution to the society. In 2019, the Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti date is Feb 28th. A brief life history of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati : Swami Dayanand Saraswati was born as Mool Shankar Tiwari. He was named thus for he was born during the Constellation movement phase of Mul Nakshatra. The name he became popular by was given to him much later by his Guru Swami Vrijananda. He was born to Karshanji Lalji Tiwari and Yashoda Bai in a village named Tankara near Morvi in the Kathiwar region belonging to the Rajkot district in the princely State of Gujarat. He belonged to an affluent Brahmin family. His father was a tax collector and was one of the influential persons in the locality. Mool Shankar led a comfortable life and was educated in the traditional Brahmin way. In his early life he was trained in the ways of Brahminism, h is father being a devotee of Lord Shiva. At the age of eight, he received his Upanayana, the Sacred Thread. However, things suddenly changed in his life. Once while he was observing the rituals of Shiva Ratri, he observed that a mouse was nibbling away the offerings that were made to the God. A question came to his mind – if the God cannot protect his own offering, how can He protect mankind?! This gave rise to a difference of opinion between father and son. With time Dayanand also witnessed the death of his younger sister and his uncle, both of whom succumbed to cholera. Different question involving life and death began to wander in his mind. He was no more convinced about idol worship. His parents secretly planned to get him married to divert his attention, but Dayanand ran away from home to seek answers to his questions in the year 1846. Dayanand travelled far and wide for twenty years in quest for his answers. He visited temples and religious places. He spoke with innumerous scholars and sages, yet he could not feel contented. Finally in Mathura, he came across Swami Virjananda who could inspire him to learn from the Vedas, the foundational books of Hinduism. Dayanand stayed with his Guru Swami Virjananda for about two and a half years, and when his Guru declared that his education was complete, he took upon the mission of spreading the knowledge to people and reforming Hinduism based on the ancient Vedic principles. Dayananda now toured the country in its entirety and spoke against the prevalent caste system, child marriages, discrimination against women, caste system and idol worship. Be believed that the Vedas contained in them the seeds of science, and as such welcomed scientific approach to life, although he was a theologist himself. He propagated the ideal age for a woman to get married ranged between 16 and 24 years, while that for a man was 25 and 40 years. In 1875 he founded Arya Samaj to promote and propagate social reforms and also to offer social services. The motto of Arya Samaj is ‘Krinvanto Vishvam Aryam” which translated means “To make the world noble”. He penned a book named Saytaprakash (Satya = Truth; Prakash = Light) to talk about the reformed Hinduism where salvation was not the ultimate aim – the ultimate aim was to lead a fruitful and virtuous life. As per records, Dayanand took his last breath in 1883 in Jodhpur where he was spending Diwali as the guest of the Maharaja of Jodhpur. He offended the mistress of the Maharaja by preaching the King to lead a righteous life, who in turn, poisoned him as revenge. Although the Maharaja did send out for help, his life could not be saved. Even in death, his last word was “Om”. Type of Holiday in India: Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti is not a gazetted or national holiday in India. However, people all across the various cities of the country who observe the occurrence have the option of taking a Restricted Holiday on this day to mark the occasion. Government and private offices remain open on this day though. Also, local businesses, banks and transportation systems in the cities operate in full swing. However, certain institutions may opt to remain closed on this day to celebrate the occasion. Observances to mark the occasion: Special programs are organized to mark this occasion, especially at various educational institutions across the country. Collages, wall magazines and charts are prepared that uphold the life and teachings of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati. His principles are discussed and pictures and writings are published on this topic. Emphasis is also laid on Vedic culture and education – the foundation stone of the teachings of Dayanand Saraswati. His movements are featured in various billboards that are displayed at various locations. Arya Samaj bodies also organize for discourses and other activities that include lectures, pamphlet distributions, philanthropic activities and environmental development initiatives. 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Maha Navami The word Navami is the Sanskrit word for Ninth. Maha Navami as such refers to the ninth day of the Durga Puja, which is also known as Navratri or Durgotsav in certain parts of the country. The day is considered to be especially significant by devotees (hence the suffix Maha which according to the Sanskrit language means Great). Devotees often observe a fast on this day and perform many rites and rituals. Dates of Maha Navami in the next five years according to the modern day calendar: Maha Navami is generally celebrated in the month of Ashwin in the Shukla Paksha (bright phase of the moon) according to the Hindu calendar system. Since the calendar follows a luni solar pattern, the date keeps changing each year as per the modern day Gregorian calendar. In 2019, the Maha Navami date is on October 7. From the pages of Mythology: Maha Navami is the ninth day of the nine days of Navratri – this being, as such, the last day of the period is given special importance. On this day different forms of the Goddess are worshipped in different regions of the country. However, the major two of these forms are the Mahishasura Mardini and the Siddhidatri. The mythological stories behind these two forms of the Goddess are discussed – Mahishasura Mardini is one of the fiercest forms of Goddess Durga. This is the form she took to while demolishing Mahishasura, the Demon King. Mahishasura lived in the form of a Buffallo or Mahish, and hence the name. he got very powerful and disturbed the Gods and the humans alike. The Gods prayed before Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara for remedy. The angered Gods emitted power from them, and thereby created the beautiful Goddess who was then bestowed with a lot of power and weapons by the Gods. The battle between the Goddess and Mahishasura lasted for nine days, and it is on the day of Maha Navami that the Goddess emerged victorious thereby establishing peace and virtue on Earth. On the day of Maha Navami, the ninth form of Durga is worshipped. She is known as Siddhidatri or one who has the power to bless with all the achievements in life. According to the ancient Hindu scriptures called the Puran, special mention is found of the eight siddhis that one should seek in life. The Markandaye Purana names the eight siddhis as Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakaamya, Ishitva and Vashitva. However, according to the Brahmavaivart Purana, it is believed that there are eighteen types of siddhis. They have been named as Anima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Mahima, Ishitva or Vashishtva, Sarvakaamvasayita, Sarvagyatva, DurShravana, Parkaayapraveshan, VaakaSiddhi, Kalpavrushatva, Shrishti, Samharkaransaamarthya, Amaratva, Sarvanyayakatva, Bhavana and Siddhi. According to the legend narrated in the Devi Bhagvata Purana, Lord Shiva worshipped Shakti and was thus bestowed with all the Siddhis. Type of Holiday in India: Maha Navami is not a gazetted or national holiday in India. However, people all across the various cities of the country who observe the occurrence have the option of taking a Restricted Holiday on this day to mark the occasion. Some government and private offices may remain open on this day though; however in many parts of the country holiday is observed in the offices on this day. Also, local businesses and transportation systems in the cities operate in full swing. However, certain institutions may opt to remain closed on this day. Observances to mark the occasion in different parts of the country: It is believed that by the grace of the Goddess the devotees can have all their wishes fulfilled. In eastern India, Maha Navami is one of the days of Durga Puja or Durgotsav. Here the Devi is worshipped mainly in the form of Mahishasura Mardini. On this day the special ritualistic Shodhasopachar puja is performed by the devotees. A special yajna or hom (Fire Oblation or Havan) is also held in many homes and temples. Some people believe that if worship is done with proper care and rituals on this day, it gives the same result as the performing the worship for nine days. In some places Bali or Sacrifice is practices. Animal sacrifice is no longer practiced in most places, it has been replaced by vegetable or fruit sacrifice. In some places like Bihar, Kashmir, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, Kumari or Gauri Pujan is held on this day where little girls are worshipped with much fanfare. Other forms of worship often held in different parts of the country on this day are Suvasini Puja (Worshipping the Married Woman) and Dampati puja (Worshipping a Married Couple). Matangi Dashamahavidya is also another form that is worshipped on this day. Along with that Mukteshwari, Saptamatrika and Ashtamatrika pujan are also performed on this day. Goddess Siddhidatri is also worshipped on this day. It is the ninth form of Durga. It is believed that a devotee can have all wishes fulfilled by worshipping Siddhidatri. In some Southern States of India, especially in Kerala, Ayudha Puja or the Worship of Weapons and other professional tools are performed on this day. In some parts of Southern India, Goddess Saraswati is worshipped on Maha Navami. This day is believed to be very auspicious to make new beginnings, and as such, people often start their children’s education on this day. In Andhra Pradesh, on Maha Navami Batthukamma festival is held. This is a one where mostly married women participate. This celebrates the glory of womanhood. In Mysore, an illustrious royal procession is held where the Royal Sword is carried on elephant back with much pomp all across the city.
Lincoln’s Birthday Lincoln’s Birthday is the annual commemoration of the birth anniversary of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, who was born on February 12, 1809. Some States have floating holiday for this occasion and marks the actual birth date of Lincoln, while some other States club the day with Washington’s birthday that also falls on the same month and with Presidents’ Day celebrations as per the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. Dates that would commemorate Lincoln’s Birthday in the next five years: Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809. This actual day is commemorated as a public holiday in only some states of the United States, namely, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New Jersey, and New York. In these States, the day is observed as a State holiday. Some States like Colorado, Montana and Utah club the celebrations with that of Washington’s Birthday that also falls in the month of February. Other States club the celebrations with that of Presidents’ Day. The dates of commemoration in such cases are mentioned below – In 2018, Lincoln’s Birthday is on February 12. In 2019, Lincoln’s Birthday is on February 12. In 2020, Lincoln’s Birthday is on February 12. In 2021, Lincoln’s Birthday is on February 12. History: The earliest recorded birthday celebration of Lincoln is believed to have been in Buffalo, New York, in the year 1874. In the city of Buffalo Julius Francis a druggist by profession felt that the assassinated President of the United States should be given proper tribute on his birthday. He made it a mission of his life to promote the day to be a legal holiday, and he diligently worked towards it all his life till he died in 1881. It was him who had sent repeated petitions to the Congress to establish Lincoln’s Birthday to be a legal holiday. Since 1922, the Lincoln’s Birthday observances started to be organized by a Committee formed for the purpose known as the Lincoln Birthday National Commemorative Committee. This Committee was aided by the by the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS). Since the 19th Century Lincoln’s Birthday came to be celebrated especially also by the African American communities in the United States, and the month of February has since been known as the Black History Month. This is because on the 14th day of the month of February Frederick Douglass was also born. Frederick Douglass championed the cause of slave abolition and is highly revered by the African Americans. Since 1926, the renowned historian Carter G. Woodson along with the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History had worked towards establishing the second week of February as the “Negro History Week”. But by the 1970s the Negro History Week was expanded to establish the Black History Month. Public Life: Non-essential Government departments do not function on this day, the day being dependent on when the occasion is commemorated in the State. Till the 1980s corporate businesses used to remain closed on this day. However after then the retailers have started promoting various sales schemes during this time clubbing with Presidents’ Day. Even delivery services operate in full swing on this day except the United States Postal Service which may not operate in some States. Operation of public transport system varies from place to place – in some places it may be erratic, while at others pretty regular. Many universities and colleges continue with their regular schedule, while some others give a week long mid winter recess during this time, depending on the rules of the school district. Observances: To commemorate Lincoln’s Birthday, many concerts and re-enactment shows are organized. At the Lincoln Memorial situated in Washington DC, every year on February 12th a ceremony is organized where wreath is laid and the Gettysburg Address, the famous speech by Lincoln that was delivered during the American Civil War, is read. A wreath is also laid at the tomb of Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois. Large scale events are planned by institutions that have Lincoln’s name associated with them – namely, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Indiana Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, Kentucky Lincoln Heritage Trail, etc. The Republican Party often hosts a fund raiser dinner on this day since Lincoln was the country’s first Republican President. Holidays Around The World Bank Holidays 2019 Holi Easter Maha Shivaratri Good Friday Vasant Panchami Rama Navami Akshaya Tritiya Shivaji Jayanti Ratha Yatra Kartik Poornima Anant Chaturdashi Raksha Bandhan Ramzan Id/Eid-ul-Fitar Onam Janmashtami Independence Day In India Friendship Day in India Father’s Day in India Buddha Purnima Nag Panchami Gandhi Jayanti Ganesh Chaturthi Gudi Padwa Labor Day New Year 2019 January 1st – History Chinese New Year Hindu New Year Hmong New Year Islamic New Year Japanese New Year Jewish New Year Korean New Year Thai New Year Persian New Year Tibetan New Year Vietnamese New Year
Labor Day When is Labor Day The celebration of International Labor Movements is held internationally on May 1 since 1891. This is observed officially in more than 80 countries where this day is a public holiday and unofficially in many more. In USA and Canada, however, the first Monday of the month of September is observed as Labor Day since 1894 — in 2014, Labor Day will be celebrated on 1st September. The essence of the observation is to pay tribute to the contributions and achievements of the “Working Class”. Additionally, in USA, this officially marks the end of summer. History and Background On May 4, 1886, the working class observed a strike and assembled in Chicago in a public assembly trying to secure for themselves the eight hour workday. The police tried to disperse the mass. Suddenly an unidentified person threw a bomb at the police. The police, in turn, retaliated with open fire. This took several lives and turned into a massacre. In 1891, May Day was formally given recognition. Since then this day has been a National holiday in more than 80 countries and is unofficially celebrated in even more. On May 1, 1894, riots were held all over Cleveland, Ohio, USA, where the unemployed people took out their frustrations on the leaders whose ineffective measures failed to give the citizens any solution to unemployment problems. The Central Labor Union did not want any observance on this day so that this incident is not commemorated. As such, in USA and Canada, Labor Day started to be celebrated on the first Monday of the month of September each year. Labor Day Celebrations Different countries celebrate Labor Day with different observances. Here we touch upon some of them – India: The first Labor Day celebrations in India was held in the then Madras when the leader of the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan Singaravelu Chettiar made arrangements for the celebrations. Also on this day, the Red Flag was introduced in India. Maharashtra and Gujarat attained statehood on this day after the State of Bombay got divided on the basis of language. Today this holiday is associated with labor movements of the Communist and Socialist political parties. May 1 is a public and bank holiday in India. USA & Canada: In USA and Canada, festivals and fairs are held for the working people and their families. Later on speeches of prominent people were introduced. Parades and street shows also take place. The retailers take this opportunity to perk up the festive mood by offering sales. This also marks the end of summer officially and picnic and parties are organized for that. Also the NFL and college football season commences from Labor Day. China & Japan: May Day marks the beginning of one of the Golden Weeks and is a National Holiday. Germany: May Day celebrations are essentially held by the Government only. Any other group cannot take any initiative. It is a National Holiday. However, even now violent political protests take place on this day. Apart from the countries mentioned above, in many other countries across the five continents May Day is a National Holiday. Holidays Around The World Bank Holidays 2019 Holi Easter Maha Shivaratri Good Friday Vasant Panchami Rama Navami Akshaya Tritiya Shivaji Jayanti Ratha Yatra Kartik Poornima Anant Chaturdashi Raksha Bandhan Ramzan Id/Eid-ul-Fitar Onam Janmashtami Independence Day In India Friendship Day in India Father’s Day in India Buddha Purnima Nag Panchami Gandhi Jayanti Ganesh Chaturthi Gudi Padwa Labor Day New Year 2019 January 1st – History Chinese New Year Hindu New Year Hmong New Year Islamic New Year Japanese New Year Jewish New Year Korean New Year Thai New Year Persian New Year Tibetan New Year Vietnamese New Year
Karva Chauth Karva Chauth is perhaps the most lauded and celebrated festivals observed by married women all over northern India. It is a festival which has of late come to be celebrated with a lot of pomp and fanfare. Essentially the Karva Chauth celebration was about the bonding between the bride of the house and her in laws and the other women folk. This fast is mostly observed in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. An almost similar festival is known as Chhath and is celebrated Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand etc area. This observance is done on the chaturthi of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartick according to traditional Hindu calendar. As per the Gregorian calendar this falls in the dark phase of the moon in the month of October. In 2019, Karva Chauth will be celebrated on the 17th of October. Origin of the Karva Chauth festival Etymologically Karva Chauth is the amalgamation of two words/ Karva means earthen pot and chauth means chaturthi or the fourth day. The observance came into being in the north and western part of India. It is believed that men of those areas used to go to war very frequently leaving their wives and the small children at home. This was in the period when the Mughal invaders were raring to enter the land. These wives would dress up and spend time with their husbands and socialize with other women. The festival also fell in the time when the wheat sowing was going on. Thus it was also a prayer for the good harvest. Karva Chauth There is also the theory that previously young girls would get married and they would go to their in laws house. There they knew no one and this festival helped them to bond with the other women. Thus Karva Chauth started as a festival to celebrate for the safety and well being of the husbands along with the newly made friends of the wife. Before the day of the Karva Chauth the women would buy new Karva or earthen pots and put bangles, ribbons, make-up items, small items of clothing, homemade candies etc and then they would exchange it amongst the friends. Legends behind Karva chauth Long ago there was a beautiful queen called Veeravati who had 7 brothers. The first Karva Chauth she was spending at her parental place when her brothers couldn’t tolerate her distressed state due to severe hunger and thirst. Thus they fixed up a mirror on the peepal tree and when Veeravati saw it, she thought it was the moon and broke her fast. The moment she ate, news reached her that the King was died. Griefstricken Veeravati kept crying till the time a Goddess appeared and told her how her brothers had faked the moon and she had unwittingly broken off her fast. The Goddess asked her to perform her vrat once again. This time Veeravati repeated the fast. The Lord of Yama was then forced to give her husband’s life back. It is said that Draupadi too in the epic Mahabharata used to keep the fast of Karva Chauth. Once Arjun had gone to the Nilgiri forests and the rest of the Pandavas were in deep distress. Draupadi requested Lord Krishna to show her a way out of this difficulty and Krishna advised her to keep the fast and reminded her of the story of Veeravati. He also said that Parvati too had observed the same penance for Lord Shiva. There is also the story of a woman called Karva, who was a dedicated wife. Once, her husband was being dragged by a crocodile in the water, when Karva asked the Yama raj to take the crocodile with him. Yama refused and Karva enraged threatened to curse him. However, finally Yama relented and sent the crocodile to hell and blessed Karva and her husband with a long and prosperous life. Rituals of Karva Chauth Women start preparing for the Karva Chauth a couple of days before from the original date of the vrat. They buy jewelry, cosmetics, the Karva chauth lamps, mehendi and beautifully decorated puja thalis. In Punjab, on this auspicious day women awake in the morning and then eat and drink to prepare for a day long past. In Uttar Pradesh, women eat soot feni on the eve of this festival.sargi is an important aspect in Punjab, which is given from the mother in law to the bride of the house. Women start their fasting from the morning and traditionally on this day they do not have to do any house work. They apply henna on their hands. It is a custom to exchange the Karva filled with various gifts among other women. Since Karva Chauth is also a harvest festival, it is also a very good time to exchange gifts amongst selves. In the evening women wear beautiful clothes and in certain regions they wear complete bridal fineries too. The color of their dresses and saris are mostly red, orange or gold. The fasting women all sit in a circle with their puja thalis, and listen to a story of the Karva Chauth. While singing the Karva Chauth songs the puja thalis are passed on, which is called feris. The first six cantos describe things which are forbidden, like weaving cloth, attempting to please someone, awakening the sleeping and the seventh describes the lifting of the restrictions. In the state of Uttar Pradesh, women exchange Karva s 7 times and in Rajasthan women are asked if they are satiated, to which they reply that they are satiated with drinking water but not with the love of her husband. After this, the fasting women offers Prasad or bayna like puri, halwa, meethi and namkeen mathri etc to the Goddess and later on to their mother-in –laws or sister-in-laws. After the fera is done, the fasting women wait for the moon to rise. Once the moon is up, the woman watches the moon through a vessel of water or a sieve or a dupatta, and then watches her husband. It is the belief that throughout the day’s penance, the woman gains the strength to challenge Yama even to protect her husband. The husband now takes the glass of water from the plate and makes his wife sip water and also offers her the first morsel of food, and breaks her fast. Significance of Karva Chauth In the modern times Karva Chauth has become a festival which signifies the love and bonding between a husband and a wife. Holidays Around The World Bank Holidays 2019 Holi Easter Maha Shivaratri Good Friday Vasant Panchami Rama Navami Akshaya Tritiya Shivaji Jayanti Ratha Yatra Kartik Poornima Anant Chaturdashi Raksha Bandhan Ramzan Id/Eid-ul-Fitar Onam Janmashtami Independence Day In India Friendship Day in India Father’s Day in India Buddha Purnima Nag Panchami Gandhi Jayanti Ganesh Chaturthi Gudi Padwa Labor Day New Year 2019 January 1st – History Chinese New Year Hindu New Year Hmong New Year Islamic New Year Japanese New Year Jewish New Year Korean New Year Thai New Year Persian New Year Tibetan New Year Vietnamese New Year
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