In your diary: October

3, Shemini Atzeret, Judaism

Following closely behind the more widely known and livelier festival of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret translates as ‘The Eighth Day of Assembly’. This is one of four times in the year when Jews say memorial prayers for their dead. It also marks the end of the harvest and traditionally, a prayer for rain. This held significance for Jews living an agricultural existence in harsh desert climates, but now can carry new significance in this time of challenging weather conditions.

20, Dussehra, Hinduism

Dussehra is one of India’s most spectacular festivals – which is no mean feat! It celebrates the triumph of good over evil, by evoking the ancient tale of Lord Rama’s victory over demon king Ravana. Across the country, this story is re-enacted in traditional Ramlila performances, a dramatic re-telling of the Hindu epic Ramayana, telling the life of Rama. Each town has its own mela, a fair with rides, food, local handicrafts and its own performances of music and dance. These are followed by bonfires at nightfall, where giant effigies of Ravana and his son and brother are burned.

October’s dates at a glance

Religious/cultural

1 –           Rohini Vrat, Jain
2 –          Feast of the Guardian Angels, Catholic Christian
2 –          Gandhi Jayanti, Hindu
2 –          Mehregan, Zoroastrian
3 –          Shemini Atzeret, Judaism
4 –          Feast of St Francis of Assisi, Christian
4 –          Simchat Torah, Judaism
11 –         Sharada Navratri begins, Hindu
12-16 –   Ayathrem Gahambar, Zoroastrian
17 –         Ashwina Navapada Oli begins, Jain
17 –         Durga Puja begins, Hindu
18 –         Feast of Saint Luke, Christian
20 –        Dussehra, Hindu
20 –        Guru Granth Sahib Coronation Day, Sikh
25 –        Kathina, Buddhist
27 –        Guru Ram Das Jayanti, Sikh
28 –        Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Christian
28 –        Rohini Vrat, Jain
29 –        Karwa Chauth, Hindu
31 –         All Hallows’ Eve, Christian
31 –         Reformation Day, Protestant Christian

Awareness and Events

1 –         Anniversary of the Introduction of the Equality Act
1 –         International Day of Older Persons
5 –        World Teachers’ Day
6 –        World Cerebral Palsy Day
8 –        World Sight Day
10 –       World Mental Health Day
11 –        International Day of the Girl Child
11 –        National Coming Out Day
15 –       International Day of Rural Women
16 –       Show Racism the Red Card’s Wear Red Day
17 –       International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
18 –       Anti-Slavery Day
18 –       World Menopause Day
21 –       International Pronouns Day
26 –      Intersex Awareness Day
29 –      World Stroke Day