December 8 is Bodhi Day, when Buddhists around the world celebrate Buddha’s attainment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. Visit the book display in honor of Bodhi Day in the James B. Duke Library. Selected titles include: The Life of the Buddha Adventures with the Buddha: A Personal Buddhism Reader Buddhism: Introducing the Buddhist Experience . . .Continue reading Celebrate Bodhi Day
Tag: religious holidays
Into the Woods and Up the Mountain
by Gabe Fresa, Library Intern, Summer 2018 Today, the Beta Yisrael community of Jews celebrates Sigd. In short, the holiday is commemorating the community’s chutzpah against the Christian empire that ruled over them in what is now the modern nation of Ethiopia. According to the stories, the Aksum Empire waged war against the Jews in . . .Continue reading Into the Woods and Up the Mountain
Diwali: The Festival of Lights
People all around the world celebrate Diwali. In India, the holiday may last four or five days. In the United States and Canada, it is usually only celebrated for one day. Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights. It is a celebration of light over dark and of good over evil. Hindus celebrate this holiday . . .Continue reading Diwali: The Festival of Lights
Guru Nanak Jayanti
by Krissa Stewart, Library Intern, Summer 2017 Guru Nanak Jayanti is one of the most sacred festivals in Sikhism, celebrating the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated with a parade where Sikhs sing, dance, and perform martial arts the day before Guru Nanak Jayanti. On the day itself, . . .Continue reading Guru Nanak Jayanti
Diwali: The Festival of Lights
by Krissa Stewart, Library Intern, Summer 2017 Diwali: October 19, 2017 Festival of Lights; celebration of the victory of good over evil Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights and one of the most popular festivals of Hinduism. So popular, that several countries have declared it a national holiday. Diwali signifies the triumph of light over . . .Continue reading Diwali: The Festival of Lights
Significance of Ashura
Ashura 2017 will begin in the evening of Friday, September 29. Ashura in A Concise Encyclopedia of Islam A twenty-four hour non-obligatory fast celebrated on the tenth of Muharram, it was first performed by Muhammad. Among the Sunni, the day is marked as a commemoration of the day Nuh left the ark, and the door . . .Continue reading Significance of Ashura
Shubh Navratri!
Navratri: September 21– September 30, 2017 by Krissa Stewart, Library Intern, Summer 2017 Navratri is a nine day Hindu festival celebrated in the fall of each year. In the eastern and north eastern states of India, Navratri is synonymous with Durga Puja, when the warrior goddess Durga battled a buffalo demon to help restore dharma. . . .Continue reading Shubh Navratri!
Rosh Hashanah: To a Good Year
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a time for self-reflection and examination of conscience. It is observed on the first two days of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. This year, Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on September 20 and ends at nightfall on September 22. The holiday is a time to . . .Continue reading Rosh Hashanah: To a Good Year
Happy Eid al-Adha!
by Krissa Stewart, Library Intern Eid al-Adha is the second and holier of the two Muslim holidays celebrated worldwide every year. Eid al-Adha 2017 in the United States begins in the evening of Thursday, August 31 and ends in the evening of Friday, September 1. Called the Sacrifice Feast, Eid al-Adha honors Abraham’s willingness to . . .Continue reading Happy Eid al-Adha!
Shubh Ganesh Chaturthi!
by Krissa Stewart, Library Intern August 25th, 2017 marks the beginning of the ten day Hindu festival Ganesh Chaturthi, the celebration of the birth of Ganesh. Ganesh is one of the five major gods of Hinduism, revered as the remover of obstacles and easily recognizable by his unique elephant head. Ganesh was molded out of . . .Continue reading Shubh Ganesh Chaturthi!