* Sept/Oct HARVEST FESTIVAL Christian (Western, Anglican and Free Churches)

Displays of various foods are made in churches and Sunday schools and services are held to give thanks for the goodness of God’s gifts in nature.

1 October (Wednesday) JASHN-E MEHERGAN (or MIHR JASHAN) Zoroastrian (Iranian)

The festival of Mehergan is dedicated to the divinity Meher or Mithra, who is associated with the sun and with justice. Thanks are offered at the fire temple and the community shares in a meal that includes dry fruits and nuts, along with a drink, dancing and merrymaking.

2 October (Thursday) GANDHI JAYANTI Hindu

Gandhi Jayanti is an Indian national holiday that celebrates the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, who is referred to as the ‘Father of the Nation’. He was the driving force behind the foundation of the state of India. His birthday is celebrated with services, prayers and painting and essay contests, using topics that glorify peace and non-violence, and the singing of Gandhi’s favourite devotional song entitled ‘Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram’ (Ram Dhun for short).

2 October (Thursday) DUSSEHRA Hindu

Vijayadashami also known as Dussehra, Dasara or Dashain, is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navaratri every year. It is observed on the tenth day in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin, the seventh month of the Hindu Luni-Solar calendar.

2 October (Thursday) YOM KIPPUR Jewish

The last of the ten days of repentance, this ‘Sabbath of Sabbaths’ is the holiest day of the Jewish year. It is marked by ‘afflicting the soul’ – expressed through a total fast 25 hours long. Jews spend the eve and most of the day in prayer, asking for forgiveness for past wrongs and resolving to improve in the future. The Book of Jonah is read.

6 October (Monday) RABBIT IN THE MOON FESTIVAL / ZHONGQIUJIE / CHUNG CH’IU Chinese

This Mid-Autumn festival celebrates the moon’s birthday. Offerings are made to the rabbit in the moon, who is pounding the elixir of life with a pestle. ‘Spirit money’ is brought along with incense and offered to the moon by women, who also make special ‘moon’ cakes containing ground lotus and sesame seeds or dates.

6 October (Monday) CONFERRING OF GURUSHIP ON THE GURU GRANTH SAHIB Sikh

In 1708 Guru Gobind Singh declared that, instead of having another human Guru, from now on Sikhs would regard the scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, as their Guru.

7 October (Tuesday) PAVARANA DAY Buddhist

Pavarana is a Buddhist holy day celebrated on Aashvin full moon of the lunar month. This usually occurs on the full moon of the 11th month. It marks the end of the three lunar months of Vassa, sometimes called "Buddhist Lent." The day is marked in some Asian countries where Theravada Buddhism is practiced.

7 October (Tuesday) to 13 October (Monday) SUKKOT [Feast of Tabernacles] Jewish

This harvest festival recalls the 40 years the Jews spent in the wilderness on the way from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. A temporary hut or booth – called a sukkah – is used for eating meals and for visits and socialising.  The roof, which has to be open in part to the elements, is covered with branches and decorated with fruit.

12 October (Sunday) to 19 October (Sunday) INTER FAITH WEEK OF PRAYER FOR WORLD PEACE

Prayers from the literature of several different world religions are published each year in a special leaflet.  They are composed and used by many different religious communities.

14 October (Tuesday) SHEMINI ATZERET Jewish

Shemini Atzeret is a Jewish holiday. It is celebrated on the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei in the Land of Israel, and on the 22nd and 23rd outside the Land, usually coinciding with late September or early October.

15 October (Wednesday) SIMCHAT TORAH Jewish

The annual reading of the Torah is completed on this day.  The reading moves from the last words of Deuteronomy to the first ones of Genesis.  All the Torah scrolls are paraded around the synagogue, while children dance and sing, as do many of the adults.

20 October (Monday) BANDI CHHOR DIVAS Sikh

Sikhs also celebrate Divali since Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru, was released from Gwalior prison on this day. The Golden Temple in Amritsar is illuminated and firework displays take place there.  It is a time for new clothes, presents and sweets.

21 October (Tuesday) DIVALI / DEEPAVALI Jain

Divali has a special significance for Janis, as on this day in 527 BCE Mahavira gave his last teachings and at midnight attained ultimate liberation. Today temples and shrines are decorated, often with toys and images of animals, and Jains meditate on the teaching he gave on this day.  Many devout followers fast for the two days of Divali, following the example of Mahavira. Lamps are lit and children are given sweets by their parents, though the songs, dances and noise of Hindu celebrations are not common amongst the Jain communities. Jain business people traditionally start their accounting year from the day after Divali.

21 October (Tuesday) MAHAVIR NIRVANI Jain

This is India's annual festival of lights, celebrated throughout the nation. In Jainism it has special significance, as on this day Lord Mahavira gave his last teachings and attained ultimate liberation (nirvana).

21 October (Tuesday) DIVALI / DEEPAVALI Hindu

For Hindus this is a New Year festival lasting from one to five days, during which fireworks are set off and lights are hung out.  It is a festival of light, coinciding with the darkest night of the lunar month. It is generally associated with Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity, or with the victorious return of Rama and Sita after their exile. Divali marks the beginning of the Indian financial year.

22 October (Wednesday) GAVADHAN PUJA Hindu

Govardhan Puja, also known as Annakut or Annakoot, is a Hindu festival celebrated on the first lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month of Kartika, on the fourth day of Diwali. Devotees worship Govardhan Hill and prepare and offer a large variety of vegetarian food to Krishna as a mark of gratitudE.

22 October (Wednesday) ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF THE BAB Baha'i

The Bab (the title means ‘Gate’) called people to religious renewal and to await the coming of a messenger from God, believed to be Baha’u’llah (a title that means ‘Glory of God’).

23 October (Thursday) ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF THE BAHA’U’LLAH Baha'i

Founder of the Baha’i faith, he was born the eldest son of a Persian nobleman in Tehran, Persia, in 1817.

29 October (Wednesday) DOUBLE NINTH FESTIVAL Chinese

The Double Ninth Festival (Chong Yang Festival or Chung Yeung Festival in China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan is observed on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar is a traditional Chinese holiday, mentioned in writing since before the Eastern Han period (before AD 25).

31 October (Friday) SAMHAIN (pronounced Sow-in) Wiccan / Pagan SAMHUINN Druid

The Celtic wheel of the year turns and the veil between life and death is drawn aside. Samhain is the festival of death when Pagans remember and honour those who have gone before. Fires are lit and ‘dead wood’ is burned before stepping into the darkness of winter.  

31 October (Friday) WINTER NIGHTS Pagan

The historical festival marked the beginning of winter, and involved sacrifices to the elves and the dísir. In Neopaganism also observed as a Festival of the Dead and as such associated with Wiccan Samhain.

31 October (Friday) HALLOWE'EN Heathen

Halloween / Hallowe’en is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31. Traditional activities include trick-or-treating, bonfires, costume parties, visiting ‘haunted houses’, and carving jack-o-lanterns.   Irish and Scottish immigrants carried versions of the tradition to North America in the nineteenth century.   Other western countries embraced the holiday in the late twentieth century including Ireland, the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom as well as of Australia and New Zealand.

31 October (Friday) ALL HALLOWS EVE Christian

All Hallows' Eve falls on 31st October each year, and is the day before All Hallows' Day, also known as All Saints' Day in the Christian calendar. The Church traditionally held a vigil on All Hallows' Eve when worshippers would prepare themselves with prayers and fasting prior to the feast day itself.