Upcoming Events
and Holidays
See an interfaith program missing below? Submit your event here and we’ll look at adding it to our calendar!
Advent
Advent is a season in the Christian calendar that begins four Sundays before Christmas and marks a time of anticipation and preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. It is observed with themes of hope, peace, joy, and love, often symbolized by the lighting of candles on an Advent wreath each week. Many Christians use this time for reflection, prayer, and acts of kindness as they await the celebration of Christmas.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple and the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days. Each night, a candle is lit on the menorah, and traditions include playing dreidel, eating foods fried in oil, and spending time with family. The holiday honors themes of faith, resilience, and light in times of darkness.
ICM's 4th Annual Wrap Up, Roll Out, & Rally
Join Interfaith Children’s Movement’s most joyful gathering of the year: Our Annual Wrap Up Roll Out and Rally. This is a celebration party and an advocacy pep rally filled with energy inspiration community and hope. Join us as we look back at all we accomplished for children in 2025 and get fired up for what is coming next. Whether you are brand new to ICM or you are already part of the movement we want you there. Bring your friends, bring your voice, and join us of a great time! We are moving Forward Together! Advocates of every age are welcome. This is a family-friendly celebration with an interfaith spirit at the center. We cannot wait to see you!
Location: Central Congregational UCC 2676 Clairmont Rd Atlanta GA, 30329
To register and for more information please visit: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/875731/.
GIPL SINGS: Winter Solstice Gathering
In partnership with the Center for Spirituality in Nature, Georgia Interfaith Power & Light is excited to offer an Interfaith Spirituality in Nature Groups (SINGS) gathering.
Come gather outside as we honor the Winter Solstice. This is a time to engage the wisdom nature offers, stirring our wonder and connection. We will leave with a renewed commitment to a truly active, loving, and reciprocal relationship with the Earth.
The gathering will be held at the pavilion at Wesley Gardens in Savannah, GA. To get tickets please visit: https://gipl.org/events/winter-solstice25.
Yule
Yule is a winter solstice celebration with ancient roots in Germanic and Norse traditions, marking the longest night of the year and the return of the sun. Traditionally, it includes lighting the Yule log, feasting, and honoring nature and ancestral spirits. Today, Yule is celebrated by many in pagan and Wiccan communities as a time of renewal, reflection, and connection to the rhythms of the earth.
Christmas
Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is marked by traditions such as gift-giving, decorating Christmas trees, sharing meals, and spending time with loved ones. The holiday also carries themes of joy, generosity, and peace.
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a week-long cultural celebration that takes place from December 26 to January 1, honoring African American heritage, community, and shared values. Created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa is rooted in African traditions and is centered around the Nguzo Saba, or Seven Principles: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. Each day focuses on one of these principles, symbolized by the lighting of a candle on the kinara. The holiday is marked by gatherings that include music, dance, storytelling, and feasts, offering a meaningful opportunity for reflection, cultural pride, and a reaffirmation of commitment to the well-being and strength of the community.
Khayriyyah Faiz Al Ma'un Warm & Cozy Drive
This winter, Atlanta’s unhoused and elderly communities face increased challenges as temperatures drop. Help our senior citizens stay warm through the Khayriyyah Faiz Al Ma'un Warm and Cozy Drive. Sisters United is stepping up to spread warmth and care through the Warm & Cozy Drive. For just $25, you can sponsor a "Warm & Cozy" care package that includes a blanket, winter hats, gloves, and other essentials. Our goal is to reach 300 neighbors this winter to ensure they stay safe and warm.
How You Can Help:
1. Sponsor one or more care packages with a $25 contribution. https://givebutter.com/almaun2025.
2. Volunteer to help prepare and distribute care packages.
3. Share this initiative with family and friends to amplify our impact
Every donation matters.✨️🙌🏼💯 Together, we can uplift those most in need. Join us in bringing care and warmth to those who need it most. To donate or volunteer, visit: https://www.sistersunited.org/warm-and-cozy.
Epiphany
Epiphany is a Christian feast day celebrated on January 6 that commemorates the revelation of Jesus as the Son of God, most commonly associated with the visit of the Magi bringing gifts to the Christ child. In many traditions, it also marks Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River and the manifestation of his divinity. The day concludes the Christmas season and emphasizes themes of revelation, light, and God made known to the world.
Christmas (Orthodox Christianity)
For Orthodox Christians, Christmas (often celebrated on January 7) commemorates the Nativity of Jesus Christ, the incarnation of God taking on human flesh for the salvation of the world. It emphasizes the mystery of the Incarnation, the triumph of divine light entering human history, and the profound hope this brings to all creation.
Atlanta Jewish Storytelling Festival
The Breman Museum is delighted to announce the return of the Atlanta Jewish Storytelling Festival, January 10–11, 2026, celebrating the rich tradition and contemporary practice of Jewish storytelling in the community. The festival will feature an array of programs for all ages, exploring Jewish folklore, personal narratives, and family histories.
Festival Highlights:
Thursday, January 8, 2026: We kick off the storytelling celebration with a special evening featuring storytellers sharing tales inspired by songs or melodies written by Jewish composers, or that reflect Jewish themes. The event is tentatively scheduled to be held off-site at Wild Heaven Toco Hills.
Family and Community Storytelling Initiative: Throughout the weekend, families, congregations, and community centers are encouraged to engage in storytelling—from folktales and Bible stories to personal and family stories—fostering connection and creativity. Resource material (story sparks, storytelling tips, etc.) will be available.
Saturday Night Reception and Showcase: Experience an exclusive evening with Laura Simms, http://www.laurasimms.com the festival’s featured storyteller, in a reception and performance that promises to inspire and delight.
Sunday Programs:
Storytelling program designed for children
Hands-on art-making and storytelling workshop
Workshop on creating “braided stories” with Laura Simms
Holy Moly program featuring clergy from across the metro Atlanta area
The weekend's events will take place at The Breman Museum, with opportunities for attendees to explore the museum’s galleries throughout the festival.
The Atlanta Jewish Storytelling Festival is open to everyone, regardless of faith tradition, and provides a unique opportunity to experience the power of storytelling to entertain, educate, and connect our community.
For more information and to buy tickets please visit: https://thebreman.org/events/atlanta-jewish-storytelling-festival-2/.
Hear Our Voices: Press Conference at the Capitol
Faith leaders, civic leaders, and community members are invited to join First Five Freedoms (F5F) for a press conference at the Georgia Capitol on Monday, January 12, from 9:00–10:00 a.m., just before the legislative session convenes. Five speakers will offer a united call across diverse faith traditions and political perspectives to address rising fear, polarization, and the erosion of shared American values rooted in the First Amendment. Attendees are encouraged to wear clergy attire as a visible sign of unity, and F5F hopes to gather 25–35 faith leaders and more than 50 civic leaders and citizens.
This event marks the beginning of a long-term effort to shift Georgia’s public dialogue toward empathy, understanding, and cooperation. After the press conference, all participants are encouraged to visit their Georgia House and Senate members to reinforce a simple, consistent message: our divisive climate is harming all communities; we must collectively work to lower the temperature; and we must do more to uphold the First Amendment and the shared values that bind us. F5F will continue this work by coordinating future meetings with state leaders and returning to the Capitol after Crossover Day.
To identify your legislator before the event please visit: https://pluralpolicy.com/find-your-legislator/. To sign up please read and sign the Talking Points Guide and Statement of Values Sign on Letter and email your signed copies to Andrew Lewis, with F5F, at andrewlewis.decatur@gmail.com.
Nostra Aetate 60th Year Anniversary Commemoration
Published in October of 1965, Nostra Aetate changed the trajectory of Jewish-Catholic relations. This historic document formalized an attitude of dialogue and respect from the Catholic Church toward the other faith traditions of the world, including Judaism, and was also notable for officially condemning antisemitism.
The Archdiocese of Atlanta is partnering with the American Jewish Committee and the Bearing Witness Institute to host a celebration of the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate. Join us on Wednesday, Jan 21, from 7-9 p.m.
Register here to access location information: https://donate.ajc.org/event/atlanta-celebrates-60-years-of-nostra-aetate/e737047.
Vasant Pachami
Vasant Panchami is a Hindu festival that marks the arrival of spring and honors Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music, and the arts. Celebrated with yellow clothing, offerings, and prayers for wisdom, it symbolizes new beginnings, learning, and the blossoming of creativity.
Let Justice Grow: Georgia Interfaith Power and Light Green Team Summit
This summit invites Green Teams, faith leaders, and environmental activists to dig deep and let justice grow. When we nurture a movement grounded in equity, resilience, and healing, we create space for transformation. Together, we will explore how the wisdom of our faith traditions shapes our call to pursue justice. We will consider how to live into this call through practical climate solutions and how policy efforts can support thriving communities.
Our keynote speaker, Shantha Ready Alonso, executive director of the America the Beautiful for All Coalition, will challenge us to see justice not only as political action but also as a deeply spiritual practice. Then, through a variety of workshops, attendees will gain tools to build and strengthen Green Teams, advance climate justice, and engage in advocacy from the ground up. Together, we will find practical ways to live out our shared call to care for our congregations, our communities, and our Common Home.
Learn more and get your tickets here: https://gipl.org/gts26?emci=f65140d8-7eb3-f011-8e61-6045bded8ba4&emdi=7a443df1-d7b4-f011-8e61-6045bded8ba4&ceid=13262796.
Interfaith Atlanta Winter Lights Program
Please join us in a celebration of light this year at our annual Interfaith Winter Lights Festival! The event will take place on Saturday, December 13th from 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. at Emory University’s Canon Chapel. We will have a collection of poems, songs, and stories presented by local artists and practitioners as well as time for fellowship and dialogue to follow. We will also be collecting non-perishable items for the Eagle Food Pantry for Emory students. Most needed items are dry pasta, pasta sauce, peanut butter, jelly, oatmeal, canned beans, and canned soup. Parking will be available at the Oxford Parking Deck: 1390 Oxford Rd NE. We hope to see you there!
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on December 12 and honors the appearance of the Virgin Mary to Saint Juan Diego in 1531 near Mexico City. It is a significant religious and cultural event, especially in Mexico and among Mexican communities worldwide. The day is marked with Masses, processions, traditional music, and vibrant celebrations that express devotion, gratitude, and cultural pride.
Bodhi Day
Bodhi Day, celebrated on December 8 by many Buddhists, honors the day Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment and became the Buddha. It is a time for reflection, meditation, and studying the Dharma (Buddha’s teachings). Observances often include chanting, acts of kindness, and quiet contemplation to deepen spiritual understanding and inner peace.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on December 8, honors the Catholic belief that the Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin. It is a holy day of obligation for Catholics, marked by attending Mass and reflecting on Mary’s purity and role in the story of salvation. The day emphasizes grace, divine favor, and the preparation for the birth of Jesus.
Tree Adoption at Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam
Georgia Interfaith Power & Light is looking for enthusiastic homeowners to provide native trees a HOME! We invite the local community to join us for a Tree Adoption Event at Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam, Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. to receive one to two FREE trees, learn how to plant your tree, and visit with vendors. Adoptable trees include a variety of native three-gallon trees ready for planting. Each tree will come with a small planting and care kit.
This Tree Planting and Adoption program, in partnership with Trees Atlanta, focuses on increasing canopy coverage in underinvested census blocks, and we will have plenty of trees reserved for those neighborhoods.
However, in line with our mission to engage all Georgians in environmental stewardship, we’re also giving away up to 50 trees to attendees from outside those communities. We encourage you to sign-up to let us know you’re coming!
This morning coincides with a planting event on the property and at The Mohammed Schools of Atlanta with friends at Trees Atlanta and Food Well Alliance. You can volunteer with Trees Atlanta here and Food Well Alliance here.
If you have questions about this event and to sign up, please visit https://gipl.org/events/treeadoptionatlantamasjid or contact GIPL's ReWilding Program Coordinator, Heather Franklin, at heather@gipl.org.
Feast of St. Francis Xavier
The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated on December 3 and honors the Spanish Jesuit missionary known for his extensive work spreading Christianity in Asia during the 16th century. He was a co-founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and is considered the patron saint of missions. The day is marked by special prayers, Masses, and reflections on evangelism, service, and global faith outreach.
St. Andrew’s Feast Day
St. Andrew’s Feast Day is celebrated in honor of St. Andrew, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and the patron saint of Scotland, Greece, and several other countries. The day is marked by religious services, cultural traditions, and, in Scotland, festive events that celebrate national heritage. It emphasizes faith, discipleship, and the importance of spreading the message of hope and compassion.
Creating Space: Embracing God, Self, and Our True Desires with Toni Morrison and St. Ignatius
“It’s not about choosing somebody over her. It’s about making space for somebody along with her.” – Toni Morrison, Beloved. The contemporary translation of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s First Principle and Foundation concludes with this invitation, ”Our only desire and our one choice should be this: I want and I choose what better leads to God’s deepening his life in me.”
As we look towards Advent and the end of the year, join Bee at Peace with Toni Morrison and St. Ignatius of Loyola for this one-night retreat for Black women to explore our desires to draw us into greater friendship with God and ourselves.
Your event begins on Saturday, November 29 with check in at 3pm. The retreat concludes on Sunday, November 30 at 3pm. The cost is $148 which covers costs for a private room & bath for each guest, and all meals, or pay what you can.
For more information and to purchase a spot please visit: https://www.ignatiushouse.org/calendar/2025/11/29/creating-space-embracing-god-self-and-our-true-desires-with-toni-morrison-and-st-ignatius.
Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha
The Ascension of ʻAbdu’l-Bahá is observed on November 28 and commemorates the passing of ʻAbdu’l-Bahá, the son of Bahá’u’lláh and a central figure in the Bahá’í Faith. He is remembered for his life of service, humility, and efforts to promote peace and unity around the world. Bahá’ís mark the day with prayers, readings, and reflection on his teachings and legacy.
Day of the Covenant
The Day of the Covenant honors ʻAbdu’l-Bahá’s unique role as the appointed interpreter and center of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings in the Bahá’í Faith. It commemorates the covenant that ensures unity and guidance within the Bahá’í community after Bahá’u’lláh’s passing. The day is observed with joyful gatherings, prayers, and reflections on ʻAbdu’l-Bahá’s life of service and devotion.
Feast of Christ the King
The Feast of Christ the King is a Christian celebration observed on the last Sunday of the liturgical year, just before Advent begins. It honors the sovereignty of Jesus Christ over all creation and emphasizes his role as a just and loving ruler. The day encourages reflection on Christ’s reign in our lives and calls believers to live in accordance with his teachings of peace, justice, and compassion.
Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib
The Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib honors the ninth Guru of Sikhism, who sacrificed his life in 1675 to protect religious freedom. He was executed by the Mughal emperor for standing against the forced conversion of Hindus, symbolizing courage, spiritual strength, and the defense of human rights. Sikhs commemorate the day with prayers, kirtan (devotional singing), and reflection on his legacy of selflessness and justice.
Shodo Spring: Discussion & Meditation
When Dharma eye looks at modern existence, things open up. We’ll dive into that opening.
We will begin with a guided meditation. Shodo Spring will offer both thoughts expressed in the new book, and a few short readings. We'll discuss what this has to do with our lives - how to actually meet the polycrisis - including personal practice in hard times. She will address the reality of human nature and how we can move forward with open hearts and minds.
We’ll conclude with a short ceremony dedicating energy to the well-being of all. In doing this, we act out the Mountains and Waters Alliance that is in Shodo’s heart.
For more information and registration please visit: https://redclaysangha.org/event-6385597.
Open Reality: Meeting the Polycrisis Together With All Beings -- Shodo Spring in Conversation with Charli Vogt & Gareth Young
This event takes place in person at Charis and on Crowdcast, Charis' virtual event platform. This event is free, but registration is required for virtual attendance. Please read the in-person event guidelines at the bottom of this page to be sure you can participate in the event. Charis welcomes Shodo Spring in conversation with Charli Vogt & Gareth Young for a discussion of Open Reality: Meeting the Polycrisis Together With All Beings.
Open Reality speaks to the world behind and beneath our daily collective trauma. It opens practical possibilities for creating a shared, flexible culture that knows the natural world both as family and as a working partner. It invites the reader to a world of possibility. What if industrial civilization isn't the best that humans can do? What if we weren't alone in the world, but embedded in a universe of conscious, intentional, powerful beings?
For more information and registration please visit: https://www.crowdcast.io/c/open-reality.
Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative Expanded Networks of Care Training
Expanded Networks of Care, PAD Compassionate Response, is a free 2.5 hour training that addresses alternative responses to our neighbors in distress, offering scenario practice and nervous system regulation tactics for de-escalation, as well as a picture of the systems of emergency response in the Atlanta metro area.
Register Here: https://www.atlantapad.org/trainings.
Unity in Diversity: A Path to Nonviolence through Faith, Culture, and Positive Peace
A landmark interfaith experience bringing together diverse faiths, cultures, and communities in a spirit of unity, nonviolence, and shared humanity. Through interfaith dialogue and multicultural exchange, we will explore how to build peace in our communities and beyond—together.
This is an all day event with dialogue and performances beginning at 2:00 p.m. It will be held at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 101 Jackson St NE, Atlanta, GA 30312. For more information please email interfaith@hwplgeorgia.org.
To register please visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepowk5keuxDAfBMg1uvedtyexnTawEX1C_pLhvyCk2AB6pWQ/viewform?usp=send_form.
First Five Freedoms
You are invited to join fellow faith and civic leaders from across our city and state to learn more about First Five Freedoms, a new organization dedicated to providing a space where all Americans, no matter their faith or politics, can find common ground:
Celebrating our First Amendment rights
Protecting those rights when threatened
Calling out political violence
Join us at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 101 Jackson St. NE Atlanta, GA 30312 on Friday, November 7th. Please RSVP to Andrew Lewis at andrewlewis.decatur@gmail.com.
Dev Deepavali
Dev Deepavali, also known as the “Diwali of the Gods,” is a Hindu festival celebrated in Varanasi on the full moon of the Hindu month of Kartika, about fifteen days after Diwali. It commemorates the victory of Lord Shiva over the demon Tripurasura and honors the gods’ descent to Earth. The ghats of the Ganges are illuminated with thousands of oil lamps, and devotees offer prayers and floating diyas in the river.
Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahi
The Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib, also known as Guru Nanak Gurpurab, celebrates the birth of the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. It usually falls in November and is one of the most important festivals in the Sikh calendar. The day is marked with prayers, singing of hymns, processions, and community service, honoring Guru Nanak’s teachings of equality, compassion, and devotion to one God.
All Souls Day
All Souls Day is a Christian day of remembrance for all the faithful departed. It is a time to pray for the souls of loved ones who have passed away, especially those in purgatory, according to Catholic tradition. The day is marked by church services, visiting cemeteries, and lighting candles in honor of the dead.
Día de los Muertos
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1st and 2nd to honor and remember loved ones who have passed away. Families create colorful altars, or ofrendas, decorated with photos, candles, marigolds, and favorite foods of the deceased to welcome their spirits back for a brief visit. Rather than a time of mourning, it is a joyful celebration of life and memory, blending Indigenous traditions with Catholic influences.
All Saints’ Day
All Saints Day, celebrated on November 1, is a Christian holiday honoring all known and unknown saints who have led holy lives and now dwell in the presence of God. It is a day to recognize the spiritual legacy and examples of these individuals across time and cultures. The celebration often includes attending church services, prayers, and reflections on living a life of faith and virtue.
CompassionCon
CompassionCon is an annual outdoor celebration that brings together people of all ages to experience the vibrant ecosystem of a compassionate community. Held at the historic Legacy Park in Decatur, this fun, fall festival invites neighbors, families, and organizations to connect through shared values of kindness, justice, and inclusion.
Step into a landscape of compassion—an ecosystem of 15 immersive “neighborhoods” designed to explore the many ways compassion can live in our communities: through storytelling, food, healing, creativity, environmental care, civic engagement, and joyful play.
This intergenerational gathering is a space where peaceful words and actions are practiced, celebrated, and amplified. Whether you're learning about herbal remedies in the Learning Lab, connecting with changemakers in the Civil Rights Town Center, or simply enjoying the laughter of kids in the Children’s Play Space—you belong here.
CompassionCon is more than a festival—it’s how we grow the roots of an inclusive, connected, and kindhearted Georgia. With 100+ vendors and up to 1500 guests, this event shows us how we build our interconnectedness and value our common humanity throughout our communities.
Come discover organizations that center compassion in their work. Come meet your neighbors. Get civically engaged. Come help us build the future we want to live in—together. This is how we change the systems in which we live! This is how we change the world, one community at a time.
Learn more, become a sponsor, register your table, or sign up to volunteer at https://compassioncon.org/.
Children's Sabbath Interfaith Observance
When faiths come together, Beloved Community becomes possible.
Step into sacred space where prayers rise, voices unite, and children lead the way. The Interfaith Children’s Observance Service at Big Bethel AME Church is the heart of Children’s Sabbath Month, a time when faith communities across traditions gather to lift Georgia’s children in hope, healing, and commitment.
Expect soul-stirring prayers, prophetic preaching, and the powerful presence of our youngest advocates. This is not just worship, it’s a gathering of the Beloved Community.
Invite your faith communities, neighbors, family, and friends. Come be renewed, inspired, and recommitted to the vision of a Georgia where all children thrive.
To register please visit: https://www.mobilize.us/icmgeorgia/event/851138/?referring_vol=11415158&share_context=dashboard-event-details&sharer_role=2.
Wisdom for the Storms: Healing Black Trauma with the Land
In preparation for the climate changes ahead, Atlanta faith leaders are invited to “Wisdom for the Storms,” a community conversation series remembering ancestral survival wisdoms.
Our first session will take place on Thursday, Oct. 23, from 7- 9 p.m. at the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance Outdoor Activity Center.
This opening conversation, “Healing Black Trauma with the Land,” led by Rev. Dr. Jamie Eaddy, is an altar call for those ready to mend and expand their relationship with all of Creation—a sacred relationship torn asunder by the evils of colonialism and chattel slavery.
Whether you are clergy or lay, already an environmental justice activist or still hesitant to touch grass, you are invited. You are welcome. You are called.
This conversation is in partnership with the Food and Land Institute of the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC). Space is limited. Register below today. Dinner will be provided.
Learn more at https://gipl.org/events/wisdomforthestorms/10232025#eaddy.
Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center Legislative Conference 2025
The annual Legislative Conference will be held on October 23, 2025, from 10 am to 4 pm at Oak Grove United Methodist Church. It will feature presentations from interfaith advocates and policy experts ahead of the 2026 legislative session. There will also be a county-by-county planning session on how to jumpstart the most critical work in our communities.
Learn more and register at https://georgiainterfaithcenter.org/event/gippc-legislative-conference-2025/.
Birth of the Baha’u’llah
The Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Bahá’í Faith, is celebrated on one of the Twin Holy Birthdays, usually in October or November, based on the Bahá’í lunar calendar. Born in 1817 in Tehran, Iran, Bahá’u’lláh is honored for his teachings on unity, peace, and the oneness of humanity. The day is marked with joyful gatherings, prayers, music, and reflection on his life and message.
Birth of the Bab
The Birth of the Báb is one of the two Twin Holy Birthdays celebrated by Bahá’ís, usually in October or November, based on the Bahá’í lunar calendar. The Báb, born in 1819 in Shiraz, Iran, was the forerunner and herald of Bahá’u’lláh, preparing the way for the Bahá’í Faith. The day is observed with joyful community gatherings, prayers, music, and reflection on the Báb’s life, mission, and message of spiritual renewal.
Bandi Chhor Divas
Bandi Chhor Divas, meaning “Day of Liberation,” is a Sikh holiday that commemorates the release of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, the sixth Sikh Guru, from imprisonment in the 17th century. He secured not only his own freedom but also that of 52 Hindu kings who were unjustly detained, symbolizing justice and compassion. Sikhs mark the occasion with prayers, kirtan, and lighting of homes and gurdwaras to honor spiritual freedom and equality.
Diwali
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a major Hindu celebration that symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Observed with vibrant festivities, families light oil lamps, set off fireworks, exchange sweets, and decorate their homes to honor the goddess Lakshmi and welcome prosperity and new beginnings.