| Name of holiday |
Description |
Religion |
| Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh (Nanakshahi calendar) |
Guru Gobind Singh (1675-1708) was the tenth and last of the Sikh Gurus. He instituted the Five Ks and established the Order of the Khalsa. |
Sikh |
| Epiphany |
Celebrates the visit of the wise men (the magi) to the infant Jesus. It is also a Catholic holiday celebrating the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. Also known as Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day). |
Christian |
| Christmas Day (Orthodox) |
Most Orthodox churches use the Julian rather than the Gregorian version of the Western calendar. As a result, they celebrate Christmas 13 days later than other Christian churches. |
Christian |
| Makar Sankrant |
Makar Sankrant is the first Hindu festival of the solar calendar year, falling around January 14. It falls at a time when the Sun enters the Zodiac sign of Makar (Capricorn) and when the day and night are of equal duration. Days become longer from this point on so it is a time for celebration. |
Hindu |
| Al-Hijira |
Islamic New Year. Marks the migration of the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and his followers from Mecca to Medina |
Muslim |
| Birthday of Guru Har Rai (Nanakshahi calendar) |
Guru Har Rai (1630-1661) was the seventh of the Sikh Gurus. |
Sikh |
| Vasant Panchami |
Dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of learning and Brahma's wife. The festival marks the beginning of Spring. |
Hindu |
| Ashura |
Islamic holy day observed on the 10th of the Islamic month of Muharram. Shi'ite Muslims regard it as a major festival marking the martydom of the Prophet's grandson, Hussein.. |
Muslim |
| Mahashivratri |
Mahashivratri is a Hindu festival dedicated to Shiva, one of the deities of the Hindu Trinity. |
Hindu |
| Bikarami Samvat - Varsha-Pratipada |
The Hindu Spring New Year celebrated particularly in South India. Diwali, another Hindu New Year, is the more popular in the UK. |
Hindu |
| Holi |
The Hindu spring festival. |
Hindu |
| Hola Mohalla (Lunar Calendar) |
Hola Mohalla is three day festival of military exercises and mock battles, together with religious discussions and devotional music, at Anandpur Sahib on the day after Holi. |
Sikh |
| Rama Navami |
Birthday of Lord Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu and the hero of the Ramayana |
Hindu |
| Milad un Nabi (Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad) |
Shia Muslims celebrate this 5 days later. Some Muslims do not approve of celebrating the birthday, and regard doing so as a religious innovation. |
Muslim |
| Hanuman Jayanti |
This festival marks the birth of Hanuman, the Monkey God. |
Hindu |
| Birthday of Guru Nanak (Nanakshahi calendar) |
The founder of the Sikh religion was born on 14 April 1469. This festival is also currently celebrated according to the Lunar Calendar, but this may change. |
Sikh |
| Good Friday |
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter. It commemorates the execution of Jesus by crucifixion. |
Christian |
| Hola Mohalla (Nanakshahi Calendar) |
Hola Mohalla is currently celebrated according to the Lunar Calendar, but this may change. |
Sikh |
| Vaisakhi |
The Sikh New Year Festival, which also commemmorates the founding of the Khalsa by the tenth Guru (Guru Gobind Singh) in 1699. Also spelled Baisakhi. |
Sikh |
| Easter Sunday (Western) |
Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from death after the Crucifixion. The most important Christian festival. Most years Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on a different date. |
Christian |
| Birthday of Guru Angad Dev (Nanakshahi calendar) |
Guru Angad Dev (1504-1552) was the second of the Sikh Gurus. |
Sikh |
| Birthday of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Nanakshahi calendar) |
Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-1675) was the ninth of the Sikh Gurus. |
Sikh |
| Easter (Orthodox) |
Orthodox Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from death after the Crucifixion. The most important Christian festival |
Christian |
| St George's Day |
Saint George is the patron saint of England. |
Christian |
| Birthday of Guru Arjan Dev (Nanakshahi calendar) |
Guru Arjan Dev (1563-1606) was the fifth of the Sikh Gurus |
Sikh |
| Birthday of Guru Amar Das (Nanakshahi calendar) |
Guru Amar Das (1479-1574) was the third of the Sikh Gurus. |
Sikh |
| Raksha Bandhan |
Raksha Bandhan is the Hindu festival that celebrates brotherhood and love. "Raksha Bandhan" means a thread for protection. |
Hindu |
| Janmashtami - Krishna Jayanti |
The Janamashtami festival marks the birth of Krishna, the most highly venerated God in the Hindu pantheon. |
Hindu |
| Lailat al Miraj |
The festival celebrates the Prophet Muhammad's journey from Mecca to Jerusalem in a single night. From Jerusalem he ascended into heaven, where he met the earlier prophets, and eventually God. |
Muslim |
| Ganesh Chaturthi |
Hindus celebrate the birthday of Lord Ganesh, the elephant-headed God. |
Hindu |
| Lailat-ul-Bara'h |
Lailat-ul-Bara'h (Night of Forgiveness) is the time when Muslims seek forgiveness for their sins. Muslims believe that on this night one's destiny is fixed for the year ahead. |
Muslim |
| Navaratri (start) |
Navaratri (nine nights) symbolises the triumph of good over evil and marks the start of autumn. |
Hindu |
| Ramadan (start) |
Ramadan is the Muslim month of fasting. |
Muslim |
| Lailat al-Quadr - Night of Power (start) |
Lailat al Qadr, or The Night of Power marks the night in which the Qur'an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) by Allah. |
Muslim |
| Dussera |
Celebrates Lord Rama's victory over the evil demon Ravana. |
Hindu |
| Diwali |
The Hindu festival of lights, which extends over five days. Because of the lights, fireworks, and sweets involved it's a great favourite with children. Also shared by Sikhs and Jains. |
Hindu |
| Diwali |
The Hindu festival of lights, which extends over five days. Because of the lights, fireworks, and sweets involved it's a great favourite with children. Also shared by Sikhs and Jains. |
Sikh |
| Eid-Ul-Fitr |
The end of Ramadan when Muslims celebrate the end of fasting and thank Allah for His help with their month-long act of self-control. |
Muslim |
| All Saints' Day |
This day honours all saints, known and unknown, of the Christian church. Orthodox churches celebrate All Saints' Day on the first Sunday after Pentecost. |
Christian |
| All Souls' Day |
This day remembers faithful Christians who are now dead. |
Christian |
| Birthday of Guru Nanak (Lunar Calendar) |
This festival may be celebrated by some on the date fixed by the Nanakshahi calendar: April 14 |
Sikh |
| Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Nanakshahi calendar) |
Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth Sikh Guru and is honoured as a champion of religious freedom. He was executed in 1675 for refusing to convert to Islam. |
Sikh |
| Feast of the Immaculate Conception |
Celebrated by Roman Catholics who remember Mary's conception as being without sin, therefore, immaculate. |
Hindu |
| Hajj (start) |
The annual pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims should complete at least once in their lifetime. |
Muslim |
| Christmas Eve |
The day before Christmas Day |
Christian |
| Christmas Day |
The day when Western Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. |
Christian |
| Eid-Ul-Adha |
Festival of Sacrifice marking the end of Hajj. This is a four day holiday |
Muslim |
