May Day
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Wednesday may 1, 2024
Secular holiday :
Birthday of Rabindranath Tagore
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Wednesday may 8, 2024
Secular holiday : Also written Rabīndranātha Thākura (7 May 1861 7 August 1941), sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped Bengali literature and music, as well as Indian art with Contextual Modernism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. [Wikipedia]
Buddha Purnima
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Thursday may 23, 2024
Hinduism : Celebration of the ancient Gurus, in particular Sage Ved Vyas. A Guru is seen as a remover of darkness, a teacher. The date is the full moon of the month Asadha.
Kazi Nazrul Islam day
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Friday may 24, 2024
Secular holiday : 24 May 1899 29 August 1976 -- was a Bengali poet, writer, musician, and revolutionary from the Indian subcontinent. He is the national poet of Bangladesh.Popularly known as Nazrul, he produced a large body of poetry and music with themes that included religious devotion and rebellion against oppression. Nazrul's activism for political and social justice earned him the title of Rebel Poet . His compositions form the avant-garde genre of Nazrul Sangeet (Music of Nazrul). Nazrul and his works are equally commemorated and celebrated in Bangladesh and India, particularly in India's Bengali-speaking states such as West Bengal, parts of Assam, and Tripura. [Wikipedia]
Summer holiday (end)
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Monday june 17, 2024
School holidays :
Eid-ul-Adha - Feast of the Sacrifice (may be changed to the nearest day)
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Monday june 17, 2024
Muslim, Sufi :
Annual Closing of Reserve Bank of India
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Monday july 1, 2024
Banks only :
Banks Inventory Day
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Tuesday july 2, 2024
Banks only : Annual Closing of the Royal Bank of India (RBI)
Kharchi Puja
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Sunday july 14, 2024
Secular holiday : The word Kharchi is derived from Khya meaning earth . Kharchi puja is the worship of earth that sustains mankind with all its resources. Among the rituals, sacrifice of goats and pigeons.
Awal Muharram (Maal Hijrah)
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Wednesday july 17, 2024
Muslim, Sufi : The first day of the year is observed on the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar. The first Islamic year beginning in 610 AD during which the emigration of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, known as the Hijra
Ker Puja
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Monday july 29, 2024
Hinduism : The celebration occurs two weeks after the Kharchi Puja to honor Ker, the guardian deity of Vastu Devata. It includes offerings, sacrifices, and a prescribed boundary which both safeguards people from calamities and saves people from external aggression. The puja was initiated by the Tripura rajas. Participation in the puja is required for the Halam tribe. For 2.5 days during the festival, entrances to the capital are closed, and participants, including the reigning sovereign, are not allowed to wear shoes, light a fire, dance, or sing. [Wikipedia]
Ker Puja
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Saturday august 3, 2024
Hinduism : The celebration occurs two weeks after the Kharchi Puja to honor Ker, the guardian deity of Vastu Devata. It includes offerings, sacrifices, and a prescribed boundary which both safeguards people from calamities and saves people from external aggression. The puja was initiated by the Tripura rajas. Participation in the puja is required for the Halam tribe. For 2.5 days during the festival, entrances to the capital are closed, and participants, including the reigning sovereign, are not allowed to wear shoes, light a fire, dance, or sing. [Wikipedia]
Independence Day
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Thursday august 15, 2024
Secular holiday : Commemorates the day in 1947 when India achieved freedom from British rule
Raksha Bandhan
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Monday august 19, 2024
Hinduism : The annual festival of Raksha Bandhan, which is meant to commemorate the abiding ties between siblings of opposite sex, usually takes place in late August, and is marked by a very simple ceremony in which a woman ties a rakhi which may be a colorful thread, a simple bracelet, or a decorative string around the wrist of her brother(s). The word raksha signifies protection, and bandhan is an association signifying an enduring sort of bond; and so, when a woman ties a rakhi around the waist of her brother, she signifies her loving attachment to him. He, likewise, recognizes the special bonds between them, and by extending his wrist forward, he in fact extends the hand of his protection over her.
Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Janmashtami)
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Tuesday august 27, 2024
Hinduism : Hindu celebration of the birthday of Sri Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Krishna. Sweets, fruits and milk products are available in abundance.
Sri or Shree: A prefix denoting auspiciousness
Prophet's Anniversary - Eid-Milad Nnabi (may be changed to the nearest day)
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Monday september 16, 2024
Muslim, Sufi :
Banks Inventory Day
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Monday september 30, 2024
Banks only :
Mahalaya Amavasya
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Wednesday october 2, 2024
Hinduism : This day of Pitr Paksha or Mahalaya Amavasya has great significance and importance for all Hindus in all parts of the world. It is the annual festival for worshipping and propitiating the spirits of our ancestors, with devout prayers for peace and spiritual tranquility.
Mahatma Gandhi Birth Anniversary
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Wednesday october 2, 2024
Secular holiday : He is the man who played a significant role in achiveing independence for India from the British Empire with his simplicity and strong will power. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, also known as 'Bapu' or 'Father of the nation', was born on the 2nd of October in 1869, in Porbunder, Gujarat. He studied law in U.K and practiced law in South Africa. But he left his profession and returned to India to join the Indian freedom struggle. Gandhiji was a preacher of truth and 'Ahimsa'(non-violence). He started the 'Satyagraha' movement for the Indian freedom struggle. He believed in living a simple life and in 'Swadeshi'. He proved to the world that freedom can be achieved through the path of non-violence. Gandhiji is a symbol of peace and truth. www.indiaa2z.com
Lakhshmi Puja
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Saturday october 5, 2024
Hinduism : The third day of the Tihar Festival of Lights is called Laxmi puja . This is the day when Nepalis worship the goddess of wealth. On this day, early in the morning the cow is worshipped. Tika is put on her head and a garland around her neck, and then she feasts with delicious food. A cow also symbolises wealth and she is the most holy animal for Hindus.
Durga Puja (Saptami)
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Thursday october 10, 2024
Hinduism : Seventh day of the Dashain festival. Fulpati, which means sacred flowers and leaves , is collected for three days from the jungle. The jamara (a six inch tall yellow grass) and kalash (holy vessel) to be used by the Royal Family are brought from the ancestral palace (the original royal palace used during Prithivi Narayan Shah's reign) in Gurkha in a three-day parade complete with military regiment and priests.
Durga Puja (Astami) - Mahastami
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Friday october 11, 2024
Hinduism : The main festival in Bengal in tribute to goddess Durga. Bengalis celebrate with new clothes and other gifts which are worn on the evenings when the family goes out to see the pandals (temporary structures set up to venerate Durga).
Mahanavami/Ayudha Puja
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Saturday october 12, 2024
Hinduism : An integral part of the Dasara festival (festival of triumph), a Hindu festival. It is also called Astra Puja . In simple terms, it means Worship of Implements.
Lakshmi Puja
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Sunday october 13, 2024
Hinduism :
Vijaya Dashami (Dasera)
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Sunday october 13, 2024
Hinduism : The victory of Durga on evil forces, the destruction of Vasanas (subjectivity, selfishness, desires...) and the achievement of the deepest Self. Dominance of Saraswati (pure science) over Lakshmi (applied science)