Celebrating Cultures across the University of Birmingham
Ram(a) Navami (21 April) is a spring Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Rama, son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. Rama was an incarnation of Vishnu and the hero of the Ramayana, the Sanskrit epic of 24,000 stanzas. A continuous recital of the book takes place for about a week prior to the celebration … Continue reading “Rama Navami”
Vaisakhi (13 April) is celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs and marks the beginning of the Hindu solar New Year. It was originally a harvest festival in the Punjab until it became Sikhism’s most important festival. Vaisakhi, also called Baisakhi, is the festival which celebrates the founding of the Sikh community, the Khalsa. In 1699, Sikhs … Continue reading “Vaisakhi”
Ramadan is expected to begin on Monday 12 April, following the sighting of the moon over Mecca. Lasting for 30 days, Ramadan will end on Tuesday 11 May, with the celebratory days of Eid al-Fitr starting on Wednesday 12 May. The auspicious month of Ramadan is a time for reflection, contemplation and celebration. Sawm is … Continue reading “Ramadan 2021”
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (June 1882 – 6 April 1971) a Russian-born composer, pianist and conductor widely considered one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century, whose work had a revolutionary impact on musical thought and sensibility just before and after World War I. He was honoured with the Royal Philharmonic Society … Continue reading “50th anniversary of the death of Igor Stravinsky”
The naming of the celebration as Easter appears to derive from the name of the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility, Eostre or Eostrae. The only reference to this goddess comes from the writings of the Venerable Bede, a British monk who lived in the late seventh and early eighth century. Easter, also called Pascha … Continue reading “Holy Week and Easter Sunday”
29 March 2021 sees the Royal Albert Hall turn 150 years old, and to celebrate they are planning a whole series of events and activities to celebrate their past, present and future. The Hall was opened by Queen Victoria in 1871, and named in memory of her husband, Prince Albert, whose founding vision was for … Continue reading “Royal Albert Hall 150th anniversary”
Palm Sunday, also called Passion Sunday, in the Christian tradition marks the beginning of Holy Week and is the Sunday before Easter, commemorating Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Holy Week is a solemn week focusing on the final days of Jesus’ life, culminating in Easter Sunday, the most important holiday in Christianity. The biblical account of Palm … Continue reading “Palm Sunday”
Pesach (Passover) 2021, which begins at sundown on 27 March, ending on the evening of 4 April, is a festival of freedom commemorating the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and their transition from slavery to freedom. It is one of the most important Jewish holidays. Passover, called Pesach, gets its name from when the Israelites were … Continue reading “Happy Pesach (Passover)”
A minute’s silence at noon and a national doorstep vigil at 20.00 will form part of a day of reflection to mark the anniversary of the UK’s first Covid lockdown and to remember those who have died in the pandemic. It is hoped people will help create a nationwide “beacon of remembrance” on their doorsteps … Continue reading “National Day of Reflection 23 March”
Holi (20-29 March), also known as the “festival of spring”, the “festival of colours”, and the “festival of love” is a popular ancient Hindu festival signifying the triumph of good over evil. Holi celebrates the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love, and for many it’s a festive day to meet others, … Continue reading “Holi (20-29 March)”
