RELIGIOUS & CULTURAL EVENTS FOR 2019 th th th th st rd th st st th th th th th 5 January 6 January 7 January 14 January 21 - 23 Jan 26 January 31 January 1 - 7 February 5 February 13 February 15 Feb 19 February Birth of Guru Epiphany / Theophany Feast of the Nativity Maghi Mahayana Australia Day / Birthday of Guru UN WORLD Lunar New Year National Apology Day Nirvana Day Magha Puja
Gobind Singh Ji Arrival of 3 wise men to baby New Year Survival Day Har Rai Sahib Ji INTERFAITH Year of the Pig Eastern Orthodox Churches Recalling Australian Death and final Commemorates the Jesus. Also commemorates Bravery of the 40 Immortal Ones' (public holiday) HARMONY WEEK (Chinese Zodiac) enlightenment th using the old Julian Calendar th government’s 2008 apology to buddha’s visit to 10 and final Guru of the Jesus’ baptism. who protected Guru Gobind Singh Birth of the 7 Guru of UN resolution for celebrate Christmas this day. The Aboriginal Stolen (Parinirvana) of Veruvana Monastery
Sikhs; Sacrificed his life & for freedom of religious belief. Sikhs, Guru Har Rai. His worldwide week of the Buddha. FEB JAN family for human liberty, These men were blessed with Mukti message is about the harmony between Generations.
equality, and fraternity. (Liberation or Salvation). care of flora and fauna, people regardless animals and nature. of their faith.
4th March 6th March 11th March 16th March – 24th March 3rd April 13th – 16th April 14th April 14th April
Maha Ash Wednesday Clean Monday CULTURAL DIVERSITY WEEK Isra and Mi’raj Theravada Palm Sunday Ram Navami
st st st st st Shivaratri Start of Orthodox 21 March 21 March 21 March 21 March 21 March New Year IL Night journey Birthday of CH Purim UN International Day Naw Ruz Holi Hola Mohalla Great festival of Great Lent to Jerusalem. Lord Rama for the Elimination of (Baha’i New Year) (Festival of Colours) convergence of Shiva First day of Lent. 40 days Ascension of the Racial Discrimination Guru Gobind Singh started this annual and Shakti. Also of fasting and reflection Reading story from Scroll of Prophet (known in Australia as Coinciding with Spring Full moon days. Beginning of gathering to practice military exercises
Esther with celebrations of APR considered their leading up to Easter. Equinox in the Northern Muhammad. MAR survival and gifts to others. Harmony Day) spring season in the tropics. and hold mock battles. wedding day. hemisphere. th th th th th th th th st st st st th th th
14 April 17 April 17 April 18 April 19 April 19 April 20 – 27 April 21 April 21 April 21 April 21 April 25 26 April 28 April
Vaisakhi Mahavir Jayanti Narasimha Birthday of Guru Angad Hanuman Jayanti Good Pesach Easter Orthodox Lailat al First Day of Ridvan April Orthodox Orthodox
Jayanti Dev Sahib Ji & Guru Tegh Friday (Passover) Palm Bara’ah Anzac Good Friday Easter cont.)
( Birthday of Lord Creation of the Khalsa Bahadur Sahib Ji Sunday Marking Baha’u’llah’s declaration of Day (Pascha) Lord Narasimha is a reincarnation Hanuman, the Night of extra worship Panth (Sikh Nation, Deliverance from His mission as a Messenger of God. of Lord Vishnu, who appeared in Celebrates the birthdays of reincarnation of Lord and forgiveness, followed Brotherhood of the Pure), nd th slavery, exodus from The most important holy day and
donning 5 articles of faith. the form of half lion and half man, the 2 and 9 Guru. Shiva in the form of a Egypt. by fasting the next day. start of the twelve-day Festival of APR to kill demon Hiranyakashyapu. Rudra. Ridvan.
29th Apr 2nd May 2nd May 6th May 18th May 23rd May 24th May 26th/27th May 26th May 27th May – 3rd June 29th May
Ninth Day Twelfth Yom HaShoah Ramadan Begins Buddha Day / Birthday of Guru Amar Declaration Laylat National Sorry Day NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK Ascension of Baha’u’llah
of Ridvan Day of Vesak Day Das Sahib Ji of the Báb al Qadr Renewal of reconciliation Anniversaries of 1967 Referendum (May cont.)
( th Ridvan Remembering Holy month of fasting. Revelation of (UN Celebrates birthday of the 3rd Guru of efforts. 27 1967) and landmark Mabo decision Commemorates passing of the Holocaust. Night of Destiny, the night when (3rd June 1992) the Qur'an to Prophet Mohammed. the Sikhs. He rendered selfless service, Celebrates announcement of Baha’u’llah, Prophet-Founder His Mission in 1844 by the Angel Gabriel brought down the MAY Prayers, spiritual and physical and took extensive steps to promote Of the Baha’i Faith in 1892. Báb, Forerunner of first verses of the Qur’an to
APR cleansing. equality of women appointing them as Prophet Muhammad. missionaries. Baha’u’llah. 5th June 9th - 10th June 9th June 16th June 16th Juneobservance) 17 th June 1st July 7th July – 14th July 10th July 16th July 16th July 23rd July Eid al-Fitr Shavuot Pentecost Martyrdom of Sri Orthodox Saka Dawa Coming of the Light NAIDOC WEEK Martyrdom Dharma Day Guru Purnima Birthday of Guru
Guru Arjan Dev Pentecost of the Báb Har Krishen End of Ramadan, Combined Descent of Buddha’s birth, Recognising the adoption of The Buddha’s
E Sahib Ji Celebrating history, culture, and achievements of Full Moon Day. Sahib Ji celebrated with a harvest festival Holy Spirit on Descent of enlightenment, Christianity through Torres Execution of first Teaching th Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Birth anniversary of great sage festive meal, and Jesus Christ’s 5 Guru of the Sikhs and Holy Spirit on Strait Islander communities the Báb in 1850 th and death. th Maharshi Vyaas, who edited and Birthday of the 8 Guru. He became charity st th 5 July celebration of disciples. 1 Sikh martyr. Built Jesus Christ’s during the late 19 Century. reconciled all the holy Vedic Guru at age 5. He stressed humility
and good deeds. Birthday of Guru Hargobind JULY
JUN the gift of Harmandar Sahib and disciples. Birthday of the 6th Guru. Built Akal Takhat Scriptures. Symbolizes Guru- and wisdom and took care of the Torah. compiled Sri Guru Granth (the Immortal Throne), and proclaimed principles Shishya (Teacher – Student) sick during smallpox epidemic in Sahib Ji. of spiritual and temple authority. tradition. Delhi. 9th August 10st August 11st– 15th August 15th August 15th August 15th August 23th August 1st September 2nd September 6th September 9th/10th October 17th September International Day Waqf al Arafa Eid-al-Adha Assumption / Raksha Bandhan “Hungry Ghost” Krishna Al Hijra Ganesh Radhastami Ashura Vishwakarma of the World’s (Hajj) Dormition Festival (Ullambana) Janmashtami (Islamic New Year) Chaturthi Puja Full moon day. Birthday of Sunni Muslims: Indigenous People of Mary Four days of the Festival Symbolises the strong Ancestor Day: Celebrate Birthday of Lord 10 day festival Goddess The day that Moses was Creator of the Season of pilgrimage First day of Muharram, Recognises the first UN Working Group on of Sacrifice as it Commemorates and healthy lives of ancestors with food Krishna, narrator of of Lord Ganesh Radha, consort saved from the Pharaoh's universe and UST to Mecca. Islamic the death, burial, first month in the lunar tyranny. Fasting Indigenous Populations meeting in Geneva in observance day commemorates relationship between offerings to relieve the the “way of life” in Islamic calendar, marking begins on this of Krishna the architect of and ascension of recommended. 1982 to promote and protect the rights of the Abraham’s willingness to a brother and sister sufferings of the ghosts Bhagavad Gita day. all Gods during Hajj when Prophet Mohammed’s
the Virgin Mary. SEPT world's indigenous peoples. Recognises the pilgrims pray for sacrifice his son to God; when a brother vows while the spiritual gates move from Mecca to Shi'a Muslims: contributions that indigenous people make to he was replaced with a for her protection. are open.
AUG forgiveness and Medina. The day that Husayn, improve world issues such as environmental ram. mercy. grandson of Muhammad was protection. martyred. 29th September 30th September- 8th October 9th October 9th October 13th October 14th– 20th October 20th– 26th Oct 20th October 22nd October 27th October 29th– 30th October
Navaratri 1st October Dussehra / Birthday of Yom Kippur Sangha Day Sukkot Conferment of Simchat Torah Diwali /Deepavali / Twin Holy Birthdays Rosh Vijaya Guru Ram Das (Theravada INTERNATIONAL Guruship to Bandi Chhor Divas Birth of the Báb Beginning of Feast of Tabernacles: SPIRITUAL CARE
Hashanah Dashami Sahib Ji Buddhist) Guru Granth Sahib Ji Prophet-Herald of the 10-day festival Day of Atonement. Fall harvest and WEEK (Jewish New Year) th Festival of lights over 5 days, Baha’i Faith, 1819 The holiest day of the (continued) of Navaratri One of the most Birthday of 4 Sikh Guru, commemorates 40 years in th Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10 Sikh Guru celebrating victory of light over Celebrates the birth auspicious days. who founded the City of Jewish calendar; Yom the desert – often celebrated 2019 THEME: Joyful holiday Birth of Baha’u’llah took an extraordinary step in ordaining Sri darkness. Can include the Govardhan of the world marked King Ravana was Amritsar and started the Kippur consists of a on the first and last 2 days – “Hospitality - celebrating the Prophet-Founder of the OCT 25-hour fast while Guru Granth Sahib Ji the Sikh Holy completion of Puja. Sikhs celebrate Guru Hargobind Baha’i Faith, 1817. by the sound of the killed in the great construction of the Pool Last day is an opportunity to Cultivating Scripture as the Eternal Guru of the Sikhs. Sahib’s release from prison. He also praying with the annual cycle of Shofar (ramshorn), war by Lord Rama in which stands the give thanks to ancestors, and Space” The line of person Gurus came to an end secured the release of 52 Hindu kings. SEPT themes of atonement weekly Torah prayer, and 10 days of on this day. Harmandar Sahib – the final chance to atone for sins and the Shabad (‘Word’) became the Guru. Others before self. repentance. Golden Temple. and repentance. committed in the last year. readings. 1st November 11th November 12th November 14th November 24th November 26th November 28th November 1st-24th December 8th December 10th December 23rd– 30th December 25th December All Saints Day Remembrance Day Guru Nanak Mawlid an-Nabi Martyrdom of Day of the Covenant Ascension Advent Bodhi Day Human Rights Day Chanukah Christmas Day
Dev Sahib Ji Guru Tegh of ‘Abdu’l-Baha (UN Observance) Reflection, Day the historical Honouring saints One minute silence Prophet Bahadur Sahib Ji Baha'u'llah's repentance, and Buddha attained known and and services held in Birth of Guru Nanak Mohammed’s appointment of his Passing of The date was chosen to honour unknown, who led memory of those who (1469-1539), founder Birthday. Martyrdom of Guru Tegh son, 'Abdu'l-Baha, as 'Abdu'l-Baha, son of belief in Jesus awakening or Celebrates recapture and Celebrates the birth of the United Nations General Assembly's lives of holiness have served and died of Sikhism. Bahadur who stood for the the Centre of His Baha'u'llah in 1921. Christ. “enlightenment”/ rededication of the Jesus, holiness through prayer DEC adoption and proclamation (1948) of NOV and devotion in all wars. freedom to worship for all Faith. or “Bodhi.” Temple in Jerusalem in and carols, themes of peace and the Universal Declaration of Human the time of the Greeks. goodwill, and sharing of gifts. to God. religions, against Mughal Rights (UDHR). Emperor Aurangazeb. Spiritual Health Victoria acknowledges that this calendar was put together on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Bunwurrong people of the Kulin Nation. We honour all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestors and Elders past, present and to come.
Please note: Jewish festivals begin at sundown on the previous stated day and, except for Yom Kippur, are celebrated for 2 days. Islamic, Buddhist & Sikh festival dates are estimated and may vary depending on sighting of the lunar crescent/moon, and are sometimes decided during the year.
Only major religious and cultural dates are included in this calendar. There may be others of importance to individuals of particular faiths or communities. It is recommended that personal explanations and memories of traditions are sought and shared.
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