• January

    Lohri/Makar Sankranti/Pongal
    (Sikhs/Hindus Cultual)

    Lohri is a popular winter Punjabi folk festival, celebrated primarily by Sikhs and Hindus from the Punjab region in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. Many people believe the festival commemorates the passing of the winter solstice. Lohri marks the end of winter.

  • Guru Gobind Singh's Birthday
    (Sikhs Religious)

    Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, was born in 1666. His birthday is celebrated in December or January. Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa and nominated the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book, as his successor Guru.

  • Maghi (Sikhs Cultual)

    Maghi commemorates the martyrdom of the "Forty Immortals," forty followers of Guru Gobind Singh. Maghi, Sikhs visit gurdwaras and listen to kirtan (hymns). Naturally, the largest gathering is at Muktsar where an annual fair is held.

  • Republic Day (All National)

    Republic Day honors the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950 replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India.

  • March

    Holi (Hindu Religious)

    Hola (or Holla) Maholla is a mela celebrated in Anandpur on the Indian festival of Holi in memory of Guru Gobind Singh. There are also processions with the Sikh flag and the Guru Granth Sahib.

  • Hola Maholla (Sikhs Social)

    Hola (or Holla) Maholla is a mela celebrated in Anandpur on the Indian festival of Holi in memory of Guru Gobind Singh. The Guru instituted this day for military exercises and mock battles, followed by music and poetry contests. The holiday is still celebrated with mock battles and displays of horsemanship and skills with the sword. There are also processions with the Sikh flag and the Guru Granth Sahib.

  • April

    Baisakhi or Vaisakhi (Sikhs Religious)

    Vaisakhi, in April, began as a Hindu festival of thankgiving but for Sikhs, marks the founding of the Khalsa in 1699. Those ready to be initiated into the Khalsa are usually baptized on this day, and the Sikh flag is replaced.

  • April / May

    Ramadan (Muslims Religious)

    Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.

  • May

    Eid Al-Fitr (Muslims Religious)

    Eid al-Fitr also called the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan.

  • August / September

    Eid Al-Adha (Muslims Religious)

    Eid al-Adha or Eid Qurban, also called the "Festival of the Sacrifice", is the second of two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide each year.

  • October

    Navratri - Dussehra (Hindu Religious)

    Navratri, meaning nine nights, is a time to honour the deities and plead for their blessings and goodwill.The festival as a whole essentially serves as the precursor to the coming Diwali.

  • October / November

    Diwali (Hindu Religious)

    Diwali is the festival of lights – is the most popular festival on the Indian subcontinent. The underlying essence of Diwali revolves around light superseding darkness, or the triumph of goodness over evil.

  • November

    Guru Nanak's Birthday (Sikhs Social)

    This 'Gurpurb' comes, usually in the month of November and is celebrated with great excitement. An important feature of the celebration is a colorful procession of hundreds and thousands of Sikhs, men, men women and children. The atmosphere in and around the Gurdwara is like a fair, as families and groups of Sikhs are seen entering and leaving the premises throughout the day.

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