Boxing Day Boxing Day is a holiday that’s observed on the day that comes right after Christmas and has got nothing to with the literal meaning of its name. Celebrated every year on the 26th of December, this is a British public or bank holiday and has been recognized and observed by govt. offices, banks and post offices since the year 1871. If Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, the holiday is extended to Monday and if Christmas falls on a Saturday, then both the upcoming Monday and Tuesday are bank holidays. It began in England during the Middle Ages when servants or workers would receive gifts called traditionally as “Christmas box” from their employers or masters. According to the western Christianity, in some European countries, this day is an extension of Christmas and known as the second day of Christmastide. It’s also called St. Stephen’s Day or the Day of Goodwill. In the “Christmas boxes”, there would be food, clothes, money or other needful goods that would come in use to the employees. This day is celebrated majorly in Great Britain as well as other areas like Australia, Canada and New Zealand. In recent times, the contemporary celebrations include various sporting events and post – Christmas discounts and bargains. Origin And Background There are quite a few versions of the stories behind the origin of this day. The most prevalent one says that back in the 17th century, the servants had to work on the Christmas day itself. It was on the next day i.e. on the Boxing day did they get a chance to go back to their families and as a token of gratitude, the employers would present them with gift boxes to take back home. During feudal times, the Lord of the manor would call everybody who used to work on his lands and give away useful goods like food, cloth, agricultural tools etc. this was a sort of a reward for all the services rendered by them throughout the year. Another story goes like on this day, the metal boxes or the alms boxes that used to be placed in the churches into which parishioners would donate coins for the poor would be opened up and the contents would be distributed among the poor. In modern times, the Christmas boxes have been transformed into elaborate hampers that are gifted to the employees usually in the week before Christmas. Also, small presents are given to the mail men, newspaper delivery boy, doormen, porters and all who play such crucial roles in everyday life. A religious significance of this day is that St. Stephen’s martyrdom is also celebrated and thus the Feast of St. Stephen also takes place on this day. He was one of the seven main deacons of the church who were ordained by Apostle to do the noble task of looking after widows and children. Even when he was stoned to death by a mob because of his devotion to Christ and he was taking last few breaths, he prayed to God to not punish his killers. Celebration For majority of the population, this day is utilized to rest the body after the excessive festivities of the Christmas season before returning back to office the next day. This day is also spent with family and friends whether it is taking a walk in the countryside, going on a picnic or flocking to the malls to get hold of the huge post – Christmas bargains and deals. Some people are such ardent shoppers that they queue up in front of the stores since midnight or dawn to grab the best discounts. On top of all this, Boxing Day is also popular due to the various sporting events held on this day. Earlier, fox hunting was majorly associated with this day as hunters on horseback covered in red coats and accompanied by hunting dogs were considered to a symbol of this day. In recent times, after fox hunting has been legally forbidden, the sports commonly seen are horse racing and soccer.
Assumption of Mary Assumption of Mary, formally known as the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven, and colloquially referred to as The Assumption, is based on a traditional Christian belief of the bodily ascension of the Virgin Mary to the Heaven as Her earthly life came to an end. The Roman Catholic Churches preach this as a dogma that when Virgin Mary completed her time on Earth she was assumed “body and soul” into the glory of Heaven. On November 1, 1950, this dogma was defined by Pope Pius XII by means of papal infallibility in the Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus. Pointing at the Book of Genesis for support, the Pope said that according to the scriptures, Virgin Mary scored victory over sins and as well as death as also reflected in the 1 Corinthians. In the Eastern Orthodox Churches however the physical death of Virgin Mary has not been defined dogmatically – they believe in the theory of Dormition of the Theotokos, which in certain ways is no different from the Assumption. The Assumption of Mary is observed on August 15 each year. The Churches that observe the day consider it to be a day of Feast and mark it as a Holy Day of Obligation. History: The word Assumption in this case comes from the Latin word “Assumptio” which means “A Taking”. Apocryphal accounts of the Ascent of Mary into the Heaven have been in circulation since the 4th century at the latest. Although Saint Epiphanius of Salamis had made statements regarding the same in 377 AD this occasion has been defined as an infallible dogma by the dictate of the Catholic Church much later. Although there is no confirmation about the death of Virgin Mary the Catholic interpretation of the event is derived from the chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation. The earliest known narrative about the event is from the Ethiopian translation of the book called “Liber Requiei Mariae” which literally translated means “The Book of Mary’s Repose”. In the Armenian letter that is attributed to Dionysus the Areopagite that is believed to have been written after the 6th century, there is a mention about the Assumption of Mary. During this period, this doctrine was first advocated by John of Damascus. There are two versions of the story, one which claims that the event took place in Ephesus in the House of the Virgin Mary; while the other claims that the end to Mary’s life came in Jerusalem. The latter is a much traditional belief, while the former has been established much recently. It is believed that the Teaching of the Assumption of Mary was widespread in the Christendom even in the 5th century. It is believed to have been established during that time by the Emperor Maurice sometime around 600 A.D. In the 8th century, there is record of the Pope Sergius I to have celebrated the event, while Pope Leo IV confirmed the feast to be an official one at that time. The Catholic writer Eamon Duffy rounds up by stating that although there is no historical evidence of the Assumption of Mary, the Catholic Church has spread it on the basis of the apocryphal accounts. 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: Observant Christians attend Church Mass on this day where feasts are often organized in honor of the occasion. In the United States, Assumption of Mary is not celebrated in a lavish manner as compared to some other countries. The largest festivity held for the occasion is recorded to be in Cleveland, Ohio, where the occasion is celebrated for four days beginning on August 12th each year. This Festival is organized in the city’s neighborhood that is known by the name of Little Italy. There are also some other States that celebrate the Feast – some places have music and dancing, parades and fireworks to commemorate the occasion. Public grounds are often peppered with food vendors and local artists often display their creations to pep up the festive fervor. 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
Ash Wednesday To the Western world that adheres to the faith of Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the approximately six weeks period of Lent that ends in Easter. Easter is commemorated forty six days after Ash Wednesday. Fixed on the basis of liturgical calculations, this day may commence anytime between the first week of February to the first week of March. Ash Wednesday in the next five years: In 2014, Ash Wednesday is on Wednesday, March 05. In 2015, Ash Wednesday is on Wednesday, February 18. In 2016, Ash Wednesday is on Wednesday, February 10. In 2017, Ash Wednesday is on Wednesday, March 01. In 2018, Ash Wednesday is on Wednesday, February 14. In 2019, Ash Wednesday is on Wednesday, March 06. Beliefs related to Ash Wednesday: As per the scriptures of the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, it is believed by the Christians that Jesus Christ was once spending 40 days of fasting in a desert when he was tempted by Satan. Lent originated to mirror this belief of fasting for 40 days before Easter to prepare oneself for the ceremonies. Ever Sunday is considered to be a commemoration of the resurrection of Christ, and as such, Sundays are considered to be days of feasting; and fasting is considered inappropriate on Sundays. In keeping with this belief, Christians usually fast for 6 days (from Monday until Saturday) during six weeks and then on the week preceding Easter, fasting is observed from Wednesday to Saturday, adding up to 40 days of total fasting. According to this ritual, Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting. The ash used on this day is made from branches that we used to bless on Palm Sunday of the last year. The practice of fasting on Ask Wednesday is often considered as a day of abstinence from meat sourced from mammals or fowls. In fact some traditions include consuming salted herring on Ash Wednesday as a continued ritual of the day before which is observed as Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras. The fasting is especially practiced by the Catholics rigorously on this occasion. Catholics who are aged between 18 years and 59 years and are of overall sound health permitting them to fast are required to fast on this day accepting only one full meal in the course of the day. Failing to do so, the person may consume two smaller meals which combined together should not exceed one full meal in proportion. Some people however go beyond this and observe only bread and water fast. Apart from the fasting party, emphasis is also laid on repentance. This is to remind people of their values and principles and prepare their mind to face Baptism, whether new or renewal. Public Life on Ash Wednesday: In the United States, Ash Wednesday 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 on Ash Wednesday: Observant Christians attend special Church Services on this day. Catholic or other Church Schools too host services on this day. Blessed Ashes are used to mark a sign of Cross on people’s foreheads by the Priests. The Blessed Ash is believed to remind people of their mortality, make them repent for sins committed, seek change for the betterment and ask forgiveness for deeds done wrong. Prayers of Confession are often read on this day. Church practices also include confessions and penitence. Ash Wednesday is not a day for feasting – in fact on the contrary it is a day of fasting. This marks the beginning of the holy Lent period, and as such is considered the preparatory phase when one is encouraged to think about choices one should make in life so as to prepare the person for either receiving or reaffirming Baptism during Easter, which comes just after 46 days. Many people engage in charitable activities on this day, donations are made either to the needy or to organizations that work for the underprivileged, and fund raiser events are organized too in an attempt to get closer to Godliness. 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
Ascension Day Ascension Day is also known by the names of the Feast of the Ascension or the Holy Thursday or the Ascension Thursday. It is a day that commemorates the bodily ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven. It is one of the feasts that is celebrated universally by all Churches. Some Roman Catholic Churches also refer to this day by the name of Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. It is celebrated traditionally on a Thursday on the fortieth day of Easter as per the count given in Acts 1:3. However, some Roman Catholic Churches move the observance to the following Sunday. History: Ascension Day is being celebrated since times immemorial. However documental evidence of the observance of the Feast of the Ascension is available only since the beginning of the 5th century. However it may so have happened, that, prior to the 5th century, the day or the feast was observed in conjunction with either the feast of Easter or that of Pentecost. According to Saint Augustine, the origin of the observance of Ascension Day is Apostolic. This is because of the fact that frequent mentions of the event are found in the Constitution of the Apostles. In the manner of his speech it is believed that the observance was prevalent even long before his time. Mentions are also found in the writings of St. John Chrysostom and St. Gregory of Nyssa. From the accounts in the Pilgrimage of Aetheria we come to know that the vigil of this feast and the feast itself were observed in the Church that was built over the grotto in Bethlehem where Christ is believed to have been born. Customs: Certain customs have been connected with the Ascension Day like the blessing of beans and grapes. This is typically done after the Canon of the Mass which marks Commemoration of the Dead. Blessing of the first fruit or a candle too is in vogue in some places. It is also the custom for the deacon or the sub deacon to wear the traditional headgear called the miter for the occasion. Some Churches organize for a triumphal procession with torches and banners around the Church to celebrate Christ’s entry to the Heaven. Extinguishing the paschal candle is also done in some churches after the prayer service. Some Churches reproduce vividly the scene of Ascension of Christ. This is done by elevating the figure of Christ above the altar. For the purpose there is kept an opening in the roof of the Church above the altar. Some Churches add to this ascension by making a figure representation of devil descend – this is kind of establishing the prevalence of the good over the evil. In the ancient times it was often the custom for the churches to “beat the bounds” to mark the boundaries of the parish. Parishioners marked the boundary stones by writing on them traditionally with a chalk and then hitting on them with sticks. Public Life in the United States: 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 in the United States: In United States, it is often a custom for different Churches to come together and celebrate Ascension Day by means of Prayer and Special Services. Church observances also include some time for self reflection. “Church Crawl” is another interesting feature of celebrating Ascension Day where people get together to travel from one church to another and experience the different types of prayer services that are held in the various churches. Combines Cathedral Choirs too are often featured that offer special Eucharist that were written solemnly for the purpose. The Church services are often followed by socializing. Some Churches observe a tradition whereby the Paschal candle is extinguished and removed after the Gospel on Ascension Day is read. 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
April Fools’ Day April Fools’ Day is a long standing custom that is celebrated on the 1st of April every year in many countries across the globe where people play practical jokes and hoaxes on each other. This day is not a holiday in any country but even then it helps to spark happy spirit in all and sundry. The day is also known as All Fools’ Day. History and Origin: The earliest account of April Fools’ Day celebration is found in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales around the year 1392. In the story named “Nun’s Priest’s Tale”, the vain cock is fooled by a fox by means of trickery. However, scholars have later opined that Chaucer actually was referring to the 2nd day of May, the day when in the year 1381 King Richard II of England got engaged to Anne of Bohemia. Literature has since then referred to the April Fools’ Day in many occasions. In 1508, the day finds mention in the pen of the French poet Eloy d’ Amerval, which hints at a possibility of a holiday on that day. In 1539 narration of the Flemish poet Eduard de Dene accounts of a nobleman who made his servants run around for foolish errands on the 1st day of April. The first British reference is found in 1686 when John Aubrey referred to the occasion. In 1698, the April 2 edition of Dawk’s Newsletter reported that several people gathered at the Tower of London to watch the Lions at the entrance door being ceremoniously washed in response to a hoax. Another theory proposes that till the late 18th century many places in Europe celebrated New Year’s Day on the day of the Feast of the Annunciation which was celebrated on March 25. The celebrations sometimes continued to the 1st of April. Many historians opine that this day was ridiculed by those who celebrated New Year on January 1. This paved the way for playing pranks on this day. Common Customs: In UK, it is the norm to play the jokes till midday. Anyone who plays pranks after midday becomes “April Fool” her/ himself. However, this tradition has diluted with the lapse of time. As per custom the joke is revealed by shouting “April Fool” at the person who was targeted to the hoax. In Scotland, the day was traditionally referred to as Hunt-the-Gowk Day, where the word Gowk traditionally means a cuckoo and was used to refer to a foolish person. A traditional form of prank is to send a sealed letter to someone requesting for help. The message would end with the phrase – "Dinna laugh, dinna smile. Hunt the gowk another mile". The recipient upon reading the message would send it somehow to someone else and the chain of hoax continues. In Iran the custom of playing pranks on each other is called Sizdah Bedar and has been prevalent since 536 BC. During this time Persian New Year Nowruz is celebrated, and this tradition adds gaiety to the auspicious occasion. In Poland this event is known as Prima Aprilis, and people plan various hoaxes ahead of time, and even media at times participates in this fun event. Even public institutions cooperate to make the hoaxes seem credible to people. Serious activities are generally avoided on this day. This belief of avoiding any serious job on this day is taken so seriously that Leopold I postponed signing the anti-Turkish alliance to March 31. In France and in French speaking provinces of Switzerland and Canada, people celebrate the day by attempting to attach paper fish to each other’s back without being caught in action. This tradition is known as ‘Poisson d'avril’, which literally means April’s Fish. In Italy this same custom is prevalent and is known as ‘Pesce d'aprile’. The custom is also adhered to in some areas of Belgium. According to Flemish tradition, children lock out their parents and teachers on this day. The children let them out only after they promise a treat. A few famous pranks: In the year 1957, BBC planned a prank where they broadcast a fake video showing Swiss farmers picking spaghetti. This prank later came to be known as the Swiss Spaghetti Harvest prank. The BBC offices were flooded with enquiry about such plants, and BBC disclosed about the hoax on the next day. On the morning of April 1 in the year 1976, astronomer Patrick Moore declared that at 9-47 that morning there will occur a once in a lifetime astronomical event whereby the planet Pluto would cross planet Jupiter from behind; and this would result in temporary gravitational alignment because of which the Earth’s gravitational pull will be reduced. Moore further suggested that people may experience a floating sensation at that juncture. BBC was again flooded with calls from people who claimed to have experienced the same, although Moore had simply played a trick. In the year 1977, the Guardian published a seven page special report that spoke about a small country located in the Indian Ocean called San Serriffe. According to the report, it was a chain of islands in the shape of a semi colon whose main constituents were the islands of Upper Caisse and Lower Caisse. They even went ahead to publish about the history, topography, geography and customs prevalent in these said islands. Readers went into a frenzy to find out more about the place that seemed an idyllic holiday spot. This event is believed to have started the tradition for newspapers to carry hoax stories on the occasion of April Fools’ Day. In 1980, BBC broadcast that in order to keep pace with the developments of modern times Big Ben would be given a digital readout. It was a shocking announcement and many listeners protested about the change. BBC also went ahead to announce that the clock hands of Big Ben would be sold to the first four listeners who would contact the offices. An immediate bid for the clock hands was radioed by a Japanese seaman from the mid-Atlantic. In more recent times, in the year 1998, Burger King published a full page advertisement in USA Today that announced the addition of a new item to their menu – The Left-handed Whopper. They claimed that this burger was designed especially for the 32 million Americans who were left handed. They further quipped, that this new item on the menu had the identical ingredients to the original Whopper, but the condiments were rotated 180 degrees. Many buyers thronged the stores in search for this new item on the menu. 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
Anant Chaturdashi Anant Chaturdashi is an observance which is celebrated with equal fervor by both Hindus and Jains. It is the last day of the 10 day long Ganesh Chaturdashi. It is generally observed on the tenth day after the Ganesh Chaturthi. Etymologically Anant Chaturdashi means the eternal fourteenth day, as Ananta in Sanskrit means eternal and Chaturdashi means the fourteenth day. As the name suggests this ritual is observed on the chaturdashi of the Shukla paksha of the Bhadrapada month as per the traditional Hindu calendar and as per Gregorian calendar, this Is observed in the waxing phase of the moon in the month of September. In 2019, this observance will be held on the 12th of September, a Thursday. It is one of the most significant and auspicious days to worship Lord Vishnu. Legend behind Anant Chaturdashi Long ago there was a Brahman called Sumant who had a small family of his wife Diksha and his daughter Sushila. When Diksha died, Sumant married a woman called Karkash, who was an extremely ill behaved woman and started torturing Sushila at every pretext. To avoid the ill treatment Sushila ran away from the house and married Kaundinya. While going away they came across a river, where Kaundinya went for a bath and Sushila noticed a group of women who were performing a vrat or ritual. Upon enquiring she found out that they were performing the vrat of Anant Chaturdashi and learnt the importance of the vrat. For the vrat Some fried Gharga and a special food called anarase is prepared. A snake like figure has to be prepared with Durba grass, and has to be put inside a bamboo basket. Then this snake like idol is worshipped with lamp, incense sticks, scented flowers etc. food is also offered to the snake God and silken threads are also offered during the puja. This is the thread which is called Anant and which has to be tied in the wrist. The Anant has 14 knots in all, and is colored with Kumkum. Women observing anant tie it in their left hand and men tie it in their right hand. The Anant has to be kept tied in the hands for 14 years and is observed for ushering in wealth and divinity. Sushila also took the Anant Vow. Kaundinya started prospering from that day and one day noticed the Anant thread in Sushila’s wrist and asked her what it was. Upon hearing the explanation he was annoyed and maintained that they had prospered because of his hard work and not due to some vrat. In the end, he took it off from her wrist and threw in into the fire. From that day their fortunes declined and they were reduced to poverty. Kaundinya understood that it was all because he had dishonored Anant and went in search of it to restore his life. Kaundinya went to a forest and saw a mango tree, which was full of mangoes and full of worms too. Thus no one was eating it. Upon asking he was told that the Mango tree hadn’t heard of Anant. Next he saw a cow with her calf and next a bull standing in the field; but not eating the grass. He saw two lakes joining one another and he saw an elephant, donkey etc. but none had seen the Anant or knew anything. Out of desperation, he took a rope and was about to end his life when an old Brahmin appeared in front of his and took Kaundinya away into a cave. The cave was dark but a light appeared and he could see lot of men and women and ahuge throne. The old men went towards the throne an ddisappeared. Kaundinya realized that Lord Vishnu himself had saved him and confessed of his son of disbelieving the Anant vrat. Lord Vishnu, Anant blessed Kaundinya that if he took the Vrat everything will be restored to him and also explained the symbolism behind the sights Kaundinya had seen. The Ananta Vrat Puja The prayer for recovery of lost prosperity is made Yamuna devi is worshipped with 16 substances Arghya or offering is given After the Yamuna Pujan, the Anant Nag is worshipped. Shesh Nag is invoked and his seven hoods are worshipped Sandalwood paste, vermillion, incense, lamp and turmeric are kept in front of the shesh Nag. Sweets, milk, fruits etc are offered as Prasad to the shesh nag The Anant Sutra The Anant sutra is a sacred thread which has 14 knots and is colored with kumkum and turmeric. The men wear it in their right wrist and the women in their left. It is supposedly a protection from all evils by Lord Vishnu himself. Thus it is also called Raksha sutra too. Scientifically, there are 14 main knots or granthis in out body. These are interconnected. It is believed that the action of invoking Lord Vishnu results in him being attracted to these knots and thus the body becomes charged with the flow of chetana shakti or will power and gains momentum. Anant Chaturdashi Fasting Women keep fast on this day for the well being of their families. Men also keep this vrat for 14 years to regain lost wealth and prosperity. Devotees observing this vrat wake in the morning, take a ritual bath and observe the rituals of this vrat. Post the puja, they can have fruits, milk or sweets. They should avoid the consumption of salt. Performing the Anant Chaturdashi vrat is a way of realizing the ultimate realization of God. 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
Ambedkar Jayanti Ambedkar Jayanti is celebrated every year on the 14th of April in the memory of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. This is done as a mark of respect for the service he delivered towards the up-liftment of the people of India. He is often conferred the epithet of the “Father of Indian Constitution”, as his contribution towards the framing of Indian Constitution is invaluable. It has already been declared as a Public Holiday in India. Life of Dr. B R Ambedkar DR B R Ambedkar was born on the 14th of April, 1891 in the military cantonment in Madhya Pradesh and was earlier known as Central Provinces. He was born to poor parents and belonged to an untouchable caste of Mahar or Dalit, who were the untouchables in the then social and caste system. The situation was so bad that the dalit children were segregated in the school, and teachers paid scant attention to them. Water had to be poured from a height so that they don’t get in contact with the vessel, and if someday there was no one to pour the water, the children had to remain thirsty. His original surname of Ambavadekar which was derived from the place they hailed from, Ambavade’ of the Ratnagiri district was later changed to Ambedkar by his Brahmin teacher, Mahaden Ambedkar in the school records as he was fond of his bright pupil. In 1897, after moving to Mumbai, Ambedkar took admission in the famous Elphinstone high school. He was then the only untouchable to take admission. In 1907, Ambedkar passed the Matriculation and set a record of being the first untouchable to achieve so and caused much needed joy amongst the untouchables. In 1912 he was awarded his degree in economics and political science from Bombay University. Then in 1913, he moved to the United States of America following a Baroda State Scholarship. Then in 1916, he enrolled in The London School of Economics and also the Bar Course at Gray’s Inn. He amidst the World War and other difficult situations, managed to submit his doctoral thesis in 1923. Human Rights Activism Ambedkar was one of the greatest human rights activists that India had ever produced. He founded the “Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha” in the year 1923 to emphasize the importance of spreading education amongst the lower untouchable classes. He also organized a social movement which he called “Educate-Agitate-Organize” which aimed to do away with casteism in India and also establish the fundamental value that all men are equal. He was deeply involved in proposing and making changes legally towards doing away with ostracizing the lower castes in India. Drafting of the Indian Constitution Upon gaining Independence in the year 1947, Dr B R Ambedkar was invited to serve the country as the first ever Law Minister and he was appointed as the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee. The constitution that he drafted was more of a social documentary than anything else, as it distinctly summarized the Civil liberties for individual citizens, the freedom of religion, abolition of ostracizing the untouchables, and doing away with all forms of discrimination. He was very vocal about the rights and privileges of the women in India. He was the pioneer in introducing reservations for scheduled Castes, Scheduled tribes and other backward classes in civil services and other schools, colleges and universities. In terms of economic planning, Ambedkar maintained that agriculture and industrialization should go hand in hand and it was his vision regarding agriculture which is believed to have been responsible for India achieving its food security goal. It was based on his idea and theories that the Reserve Bank of India was set up. His Last Day Following diabetes, Ambedkar breathed his last on 6 December 1956 at Delhi. Observance of the day Dr B R Ambedkar’s birthday is observed with deep devotion and humility. His greatest influence as a socio-political reformer played a huge role on modern India. He deeply believed in freedom of thought and was rigidly opposed to the caste system prevalent then. On Ambedkar’s birth anniversary, nearly half a million people congregate to pay homage to his visionary greatness. In Varanasi, Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti Samaroh Samiti in Kutchehri areas organize a number of events as painting, general knowledge, debate, writing, dancing etc. a seminar by Bhartiya Journalists Welfare Association, Lucknow too is organized on this day. A festival running up to 3 days is held at the Baba Mahashamshan Nath temple at Manikarnika Ghat at Varanasi. At various places free health checkups or Doctors camps are also organized to commemorate Ambedkar birthday. Dr. B R Ambedkar led an exemplary life, which should be a model for all to be emulated. As he rose and got himself educated at a time, when the belonging to the lower caste meant being denied of even the basic rights and privileges. He drafted the constitution which encompassed all the important human rights. It is also recorded that in his tenure as a visionary statesperson he firmly opposed the Article 370 which granted Jammu and Kashmir special powers but debarred India from exercising state rights on Jammu and Kashmir. 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
All Saints’ Day All Saints’ Day or Solemnity of All Saints or The Feast of All Saints or All Hallows is a day to pay tribute to all Saints, renowned or not. This is a day of solemnity which is especially significant for it pays tribute to even those Saints who do not have a special day of Feast marked in their honor. The solemnity is celebrated on November 1 as per the traditions of the Catholic Church. In Eastern Catholicism however, the day is observed on the first Sunday after Pentecost. Christians strongly believe that there is a strong prayerful spiritual bonding between the souls in heaven and those living on earth. According to the Catholic theology, this is the day to commemorate all the souls who have been blessed to attain the beatific vision in Heaven. Catholic Churches and some other Anglican Churches observe the next day in memory of those souls who have departed but have not yet been purified and as such not reached heaven. Background: According to some historians, the concept of All Saints’ Day dates back to the fourth century when the Greek Christians observed a festival on the first Sunday after Pentecost to honor all martyrs and saints. It is believed that at that time the feast was observed sometime in late May or Early June. Some other historians opine that although “All Martyrs’ Day” was commemorated since the early days of about 270 CE no specific month or date of celebration has been found in the records. The scope of All Martyrs’ Day was widened to include All Saints, martyrs or not, during the era of the Byzantine Emperor, Leo VI “the Wise”. When Emperor Leo’s wife Empress Theophano, who was a devout person, departed from her worldly abode, her loving husband wanted to build a church and dedicate it to her. But he was forbidden to do so. He then decided to dedicate the Church so built to “All Saints”. He believed that his wife being a righteous soul would also be honored every time the feast was celebrated. In 837 CE it was Pope Gregory IV who made All Saints’ Day an authorized holiday. It is believed that he chose November 1 as the date of such commemoration so as to supplant the Pagan Festival of the Dead known as Samhain. Public Life in United States: In the United States, this 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. Observances: All Saints’ Day is observed by Christians in most parts of the United States. It is celebrated with special fervor in places where there is a relatively large Roman Catholic population. Many American communities, especially Latin American communities, club the observances of All Saints’ Day on November 1 with that of All Souls’ Day that is observed on November 2. Together these become part of the celebrations of the Day of the Dead, which is also known as Día de los Muertos. In New Orleans there prevails a custom to gather in local cemeteries and decorate the graves with flowers. In Louisiana, there is a huge population of Americans who have French Canadian descent, especially around Sr. Martinsville. As such, traditional French customs are adhered to on the occasion in this region. People decorate all graves at cemeteries with wreaths and flowers – even the most obscure of the graves are adorned. As the night falls, people light candles near the graves. The United Methodist Church observes All Saints’ Day on the first Sunday of the month of November. In this observance, the members of the local church gather to remember the deceased members of the church. A candle is lit in each of their names and the names are called out. This is followed by a prayer that is offered for each of those departed souls. 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
Sharad Purnima Kojagari Lakshmi Puja or Sharad Purnima is a day of great significance amongst the Hindus. It is a harvest festival basically and signifies the end of the monsoon and ushers in autumn. The Kojagari Lakshmi Puja or Sharad Purnima is also known by the name of the Kaumudi celebration as Kaumudi means moonlight and this puja is carried out in the evening, while the moon is there. In some parts of India like West Bengal, Assam Odisha etc this is the most important and auspicious day to worship Goddess Lakshmi. The Kojagari Lakshmi Puja or Sharad Purnima is observed on the purnima in the month of Ashwin according to traditional Hindu calendar or on the full moon night in the month of October. In 2019, the Kojagari Lakshmi Puja or Sharad Purnima will be observed on the 13th of October, Sunday. Legend behind Kojagari Lakshmi Puja or Sharad Purnima Behind this observance of worshipping Goddess Lakshmi, there are a number of legends associated. One such is that long ago, there was a king who had fallen into very difficult times. The queen, his wife kept praying ardently to the Goddess Lakshmi, who is the Goddess of wealth to alleviate their situation and to rid them of their poverty. She would also keep awake at night and keep praying. Seeing her deep devotion, Goddess Lakshmi blessed her and they could regain their prosperity once again. There is another episode where there is a mention of the Kojagari Lakshmi Puja or Sharad Purnima, in Sanatkumar Samhita. The tale involves a poor Brahmin named Valit, who left house because of his terribly quarrelsome wife. He ventured into the forest in search of wealth and prosperity and came across the Naga Kanyas belonging to the Kaliya Nag family observing the Kojagari Lakshmi Puja or Sharad Purnima vrat. Valit was also fasting on that day and he too performed puja along with them. Since it was mandated that they had to remain awake, they all sat together gambling and in which Valik list everything he had. Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu was passing by that place and knowing Valik’s fast and worshipping Goddess Lakshmi blessed him with handsomeness as Kamadeva, the God of love. Seeing Valik turning dashing and handsome, the Naga Kanyas got attracted to him and married him. Valik in turn also received enormous riches. After some time Valik returned home, and understanding her own mistake, his wife too mended her ways and welcomed him with warmth. There is also the legend that on this auspicious night of Kojagari Lakshmi Puja or Sharad Purnima, Lord Krishna played Maha Raas with the gopis in Vrindavan. It is also believed that Goddess Lakshmi was born on this auspicious day. Apart from the mythical tales, there is also a logic behind the Kojagari Lakshmi Puja or Sharad Purnima’s staying awake at night is that , it is observed that on this particular night, the Moon comes very close to the earth and it has certain healing powers, which nourishes the body as well as soothes the soul. Thus the mandate of this puja of being kojagori , or who stays in jagaran or awakening. Celebrations of the Kojagari Lakshmi Puja or Sharad Purnima Kojagori literally means who is awake, and thus it is believed that on this night Goddess Lakshmi goes around from houses to houses to observe who all are awake, and those whom she finds awake, she blesses them with wealth and prosperity. In Maharashtra, people celebrate this is a harvest festival and fast by taking only liquids such as coconut water and milk, or kheer. In Gujarat this auspicious night is known as Sharad Poonam and on this night Garba and Dandiya Raas etc are organized. In West Bengal this is the most auspicious day of invoking the Goddess of wealth. On this day the house is cleaned and alpona or rangoli made of rice paste are made on the floor to beautify the house. These rangolis also contain patterns of the Goddess’s footprints coming inside the house. There are lots of foods which are offered to the goddess on this day. At some places even fishes are considered to be auspicious to be offered to Goddess Lakshmi on this day, and thus offered. Thus various kinds of bhogs and upachars are made on this day for the Goddess and offered onthis auspicious day. In the Mithila region this is a major occasion and is known by the name Kojagraha. On this day houses are cleaned and rangolis known as Alpana s are done. The Lakshmi idol is offered makhan or butter, paan or betel leaves, batasha or a kind of sweet and kheer or payesh which is a sweet prepared with milk and rice. These offerings are kept out in the open under the moonlight as it is believed that Sharad Purnima moonlight will rain Amrit Barkha or rain of nectar. The newlywed couple also has an important role to play in the Kojagari Lakshmi Puja or Sharad Purnima. The bride on this day does all the puja arrangements. A basket full of silver pennies, cloves, paan, coconut, banana, ice, doob grass, makhan, whole nuts, yagyopavit/janeu threads, yogurt, sweets and Mithila Paintings come from the house of the new bride on this day to the in-laws house. According to a Mythili legend, there were two sisters, Lakshmi and Alakshmi. Lakshmi loved all sweet things and Alakshmi all spicy things. Thus on this day all spicy foods cooked are kept out of the house so that Alakshmi can eat them and go away from there, thereby taking her bad luck along with her. Sweet things are prepared and kept inside so that Lakshmi comes in the house. In Odisha, this day is known as Kumar Purnima or Lakshmi Puja. It is believed that Kumar Kartikeya, the handsome son of Goddess Durga started a war on the demon Tarakasur on this day. There is no ritual for praying for a handsome husband like Kartikeya, instead sun and moon are worshipped. Girls wear new clothes and worship the sun in the morning and also make offerings. After a whole day fasting special offerings are made to the moon in the evening and had after the worship is over. They play games such as puchi khela. A delicacy called the ‘Chanda chakata’ is made. This is made of numerous ingredients such as – ‘khaee’, jaggery, banana, sugarcane, talasajja, cucumber, coconut, ginger,honey, milk and ghee. This is laid out on a kulo or a winnowing fan in the shape of a half moon. Lord Jagannath and Lord Krishna too are worshipped. The Gajalakshmi Puja on the Kojagari Lakshmi Puja or Sharad Purnima It is believed that this auspicious day is also the birthday of Goddess Lakshmi. Thus the goddess along with white elephants or Gaja is worshipped. Thus lot of people while worshipping her keep awake the whole night by playing pasha or a game of dice.Goddess Lakshmi observes her devotees’ dedication as to who all are awake at night. That is why Owl, which stays awake at night is worshipped as the Goddess’s mascot. Holidays Around The World Bank Holidays 2017 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 2017 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
Hanuman Jayanti Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated as a mark of tribute to the Vanara (Monkey) God, Hanumana, who is respected by Hindus all over the Indian sub continent. Hanuman is venerated for his unfaltering devotion to Lord Ram, who is considered by the Hindus to be an avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu. Hanuman is also considered to be an idol of strength and energy, and possess powers of moving with swiftness. He has been endowed with magical powers that can make him conquer the evil and establish goodwill. Dates of Hanuman Jayanti in the next five years according to the modern day calendar: In 2014, the Hanuman Jayanti date is on Tuesday, April 15 In 2015, the Hanuman Jayanti date is on Saturday, April 4 In 2016, the Hanuman Jayanti date is on Friday, April 22 In 2017, the Hanuman Jayanti date is on Tuesday, April 11 In 2018, the Hanuman Jayanti date is on Saturday, March 31 In 2019, the Hanuman Jayanti date is on Friday, April 19 Traditional “tithi” to mark the occasion: Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated as per the Hindu calendar. Hindu calendar is a lunar based calendar. According to it, Hanuman Jayanti is observed on Chaitra Purnima — the full moon day (Purnima) in the Indian month of Chaitra. Since the day is commemorated as per the Indian calendar system, the dates keep on changing when plotted against the modern day calendar system. However, there are some regional variations in celebrating Hanuman Jayanti (as discussed later). From the pages of Mythology: The legend of Hanuman finds special mention in the Indian epic of Ramayana where Hanuman is portrayed as the ardent admirer of Lord Ram who also aided Lord Ram to win over Ravana, thereby establishing the victory of good over evil. Hanuman was born to Anjani and Vanara Raj (The King of Apes) Kesari. He was born due to a boon by Pavana, the God of Air, and is also believed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva. His mother being a celestial lady gave boon to her child that he shall never die. Even as a child, Hanuman exhibited signs of extreme strength. It is believed that as a child he mistook the glowing sun as a ripe mango and made his way to eat it. This was also the time when Rahu was going towards the sun to swallow it and cause the scheduled eclipse. Hanuman thrashed Rahu, who then ran to complain to Indra, the King of Gods. Angered by this, Indra struck Hanuman with his weapon Vajra (thunderbolt). This enraged Pavana, Hanuman’s godfather, who carried baby Hanuman to Patala (netherworld) taking away with him all the air thereby endangering life on earth. In order to appease Pavana and bring him back the Gods bestowed Hanuman with a lot of boons that made Hanuman invincible along with being immortal. When it was time for his education, Hanuman selected the Sun God to be his mentor. The Sun God agreed to teach Hanuman the scriptures if he could constantly move along with his guru traversing the length and breadth of the sky. Hanuman agreed to do so, and with his immense intellect and concentration he learnt all the scriptures in sixty hours. Hanuman came in contact with Ram while he was in exile with his brother Lakshman and in the phase when his wife, Sita, was abducted by the evil King of Lanka, Ravana. It was with the aid of Hanuman that Ram was able to rescue Sita and restore good over evil. Hanuman also finds mention in the Indian epic of Mahabharata. Hanuman recognized the second Pandava Prince, Bhima, to be his brother for both of them were born by the boon of Pavana. Hanuman as such promised to aid the Pandavas in the Battle of Kurukshetra against the Kauravas. He as such positioned himself on the flag of Arjuna’s war vehicle (Ratha) so as to make it secure and stable. Hanuman is represented by a triangular saffron flag which can be seen on any Hanuman Temple – this stands for stability, control, equilibrium and victory. Type of Holiday in India: Hanuman 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. Observances to mark the occasion and Regional Variations: On this day, devotees flock to the Hanuman temples to offer their prayers and respects. Red hibiscus flowers are offered to the God. Many people make an offering made of jaggery and rice flour. It is considered auspicious to chant the Hanuman Chalisa for one hundred and eight times on this day. It is also thought that reciting the names of Lord Ram would also help to appease Hanuman, for he has unflinching devotion towards Lord Ram. Spiritual programs start in the Hanuman temples before dawn on this day, for it is believed that Hanuman was born at sunrise. At sunrise, special prayers are held to mark the occasion, after which Prasad is distributed among the devotees. Although Hanuman Jayanti is generally celebrated on Chaitra Purnima — the full moon day (Purnima) in the Indian month of Chaitra, in some regions it is also celebrated on the fourteenth day (Chaturdashi) of the Indian month of Ashwin in the dark fortnight phase of the month (Krishna Paksha). In certain parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, this day is commemorated on Margashirsha Amavasya, which is the new moon day (Amavasya) of the Indian month of Margashirsha. In those parts, Hanuman is believed to have been born on Moola Nakshatra on Margashirsha Amavasya. In the state of Odisha, the celebration for the occasion takes place on the first day of the Indian month of Baisakh as per the Oriya almanac. This day is also celebrated as the Oriya New Year Day. In the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on the Dashami (tenth day) of the Indian month of Baishakh/ Vaisakh in the Krishna Paksha (the dark fortnight phase of the moon). 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