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Holidays & Observances
Krishna Janmashtami (krish-NAH jun-maash-ta-mee) celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu and one of the most endeared deities. It falls between August and September. He played a central role in the Indian epic, Mahabharata where he teaches the Bhagavad Gita which is spiritual and philosophical guidance for humankind. The day after Janmashtami is followed by Dahi handi where earthen pots of yogurt or butter are hung from a height and a human pyramid is formed to break the hanging pots. Krishna is said to have loved butter and yogurt so people celebrate Dahi handi in his remembrance. Lord Krishna is regarded by many as the embodiment of bhakti or spiritual yoga. Many will sing songs or read scriptures till midnight (the time when he was born) to remember the lessons of his life.
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Observed the first Monday in September, Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894.
Many Americans celebrate Labor Day with parades, sporting events and parties – festivities very similar to those outlined by the first proposal for a holiday, which suggested that the day should be observed with – a street parade to exhibit "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day.
Labor Day weekend also symbolizes the end of summer for many Americans.
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Paryushana is the most important Jain religious observance of the year. For both Shvetambaras, who observe the festival over a period of eight days, and Digambaras, for whom Paryushana Parva lasts ten days, this is a time of intensive study, reflection, and purification. It takes place in the middle of the four-month rainy season in India, a time when the monks and nuns cease moving about from place to place and stay with a community. Paryushan means, literally, “abiding” or “coming together.” The monks and nuns who have to maintain fixed residence during the rainy season abide with the laity and are available to them for instruction and guidance. It is also a time when the laity take on various temporary vows of study and fasting, a spiritual intensity similar to temporary monasticism. In this respect, it bears comparison with periods of rigorous religious practice in other traditions, such as the Christian observance of Lent. Paryushana concludes with a time of confession and forgiveness for the transgressions of the previous year.
In the United States, Jains often combine the two observances, with the eight days of the Shvetambara tradition followed by the ten of the Digambara tradition. It is customary for religious leaders, such as Muni Chitrabhanu, to stay at one of the Jain centers in order to be available to the laity during the period of Paryushana. Arrangements are made with such leaders well in advance to assure members of their presence. There are not enough to cover all the centers, however. Some centers may host visiting renunciants from India who have not yet undertaken all the vows of full mendicancy and can therefore travel in vehicles and live in America, with all the compromises to the monastic life that this entails. Other centers may have the presence of samans or samanis, monks and nuns in a new order created especially to attend to Jain communities outside India.
Jains often take time off from work during this period and eat a much simpler diet. They add to their normal vegetarian restrictions by avoiding such foods as potatoes, onions, and garlic—the eating of which entail killing the plant instead of just taking its fruit. Many Jains also fast during Paryushana, some for the entire period. At the end of Paryushana, those who have fasted for the eight or ten days break their fast with a special meal during which they do not touch food, but are fed by friends and loved ones in honor of their achievement.
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Ganesh Chaturthi (gu-Ne-sh cha-tur-thee) also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesh. This 10-day festival usually falls in August or September. Ganesha is the God of wisdom, intellect, prosperity, good fortune, and the remover of obstacles. Born to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, his name derives from ‘gana’ meaning common people and so his name translates to ‘Lord of the People’. Many believe that Lord Ganesh brings order to this universe and worship him before embarking on a new endeavor, intellectual journey, or business enterprise. Therefore, it is common to see images or statues of him in these places.
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Ganesh Chaturthi is a 10-day festival that begins on the Chaturthi (4th day) of Bhadrapada month in the Hindu Calendar. This usually falls in August or September in the Gregorian calendar.
Ganesha murtis (idols) are installed on temporary platforms at local temples, communities and decorated with garlands and flowers. Smaller Ganesha murtis are also installed in personal Mandirs (temples) at devotees’ homes.
Ganesha has a sweet tooth so people offer Modaks which are conical shaped rice dumplings stuffed with grated coconut and jaggery. Other offerings include Sundal (chickpeas garnished with coconut, chillies and mustard), Appam and other sweets.
Ganesha murthis are then taken on public processions amid festivities, chanting and dancing. On the 10th day, devotees bid farewell to Ganesha with deep respect followed by Ganapati Visarjan which is the immersion of the Ganesha murti in a nearby water body. People chant in the Marathi language “Ganapati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Laukariya” which means “Goodbye Lord Ganapati, please return quickly next year”. The chant is in honor of the 4th century saint Morya Gosavi who was an ardent Ganesha devotee.
Ganesha is the younger son of Shiva and Parvati. He has an elephant head. There is a lot of symbolism in Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism). The elephant head which is the largest head among land animals represents the vast intellect (Buddhi) of Ganesha.
Ganesha is also called Vigneshwara which means the Remover of obstacles. People pray to Ganesha before they embark on any new activity or start of any ceremony to ward off difficulties and achieve success.
Ganesh Chaturthi has been used to revive patriotic sentiments in India by various Indian leaders. In 1893, Indian freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak (also known as Lokamanya Tilak) made the festival a community celebration thereby allowing people to gather in public spaces to workaround the British ban on large gatherings.
Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) has influenced many neighboring countries including East Asia and SouthEast Asia due to trade and cultural contact. Ganesha is worshiped in other religions such as Buddhism and Jainism. Ganesha is worshiped in slightly different forms across the globe. He is Kangiten or Shoten in Japan, Ts’ogsbdag in Tibet, Phra Phikanet in Thailand, Maha-Pienne in Myanmar, Totkharour Khagan in Mongolia, Prah Kenes in Cambodia.
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Grandparents' Day
September 13, 2026 CULTURAL CELEBRATION
Grandparents' Day
September 13, 2026 CULTURAL CELEBRATION
Grandparents' Day or National Grandparents' Day is a secular holiday celebrated in various countries. It was celebrated for the first time in Poland in 1965. In the US National Grandparents Day is celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day & is a cultural observance, not a holiday. Like Mother’s day and Father’s day a whole day is dedicated to our grandparents. Grandparents and children have a special connection that is proven to both make grandparents live longer, and also make children more emotionally resilient. Grandparents Day is an opportunity to treasure that connection and spend some quality family time together.
Many people honor their grandparents through a range of activities such as gift-giving, card-giving, and for children to invite their grandparents to school for a day where they participate in special lessons or special assembly programs. Many school students take part in story-telling activities that relate to their grandparents, as well as art or poster competitions where children often use a story about their grandparents in their artwork.
A presidential proclamation by President Jimmy Carter on September 6, 1979, made this day official – it designated Sunday, September 9, 1979, (being the “first Sunday of September following Labor Day”) as National Grandparents Day. Each year the President is requested to issue a proclamation to: designate the first Sunday in September after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day; and to call on people, groups and organizations to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
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Patriot Day (not to be confused with Patriots' Day celebrated in April) is a holiday observed in the United States on September 11 to commemorate the lives of those who died in the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Virginia and those who perished when the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania. The holiday also recognizes those who died attempting to rescue people trapped by the attacks.
By a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress on Dec. 18, 2001, September 11 was designated as Patriot Day. The resolution calls for the president of the United States to issue a yearly proclamation requesting that all U.S. flags be flown at half-staff. Further, Americans are asked to honour the dead with a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 AM, Eastern Standard Time, the time that the first airplane struck the World Trade Center, and to respect the ceremonies of remembrance when they are conducted. Prior to passage of the resolution, several other names had been proposed for the day, such as the National Day of Remembrance and the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance.
Patriot Day is not a federal holiday and schools and businesses do not close. Public transit systems run on their regular schedules. Some people and organizations may take some time out to hold prayers for the victims of the attacks, but these do not usually affect public life for more than a few minutes.
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Rosh Hashanah (literally meaning "head [of] the year") is the Jewish new year that takes place at the beginning of the month of Tishrei , which is actually the seventh month of the Jewish year (counting from Nisan in the spring). The biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah, literally "day of shouting or shouting/blasting." It is both a time of rejoicing and of serious introspection, a time to celebrate the completion of another year while also taking stock of one’s life.
It is one of the most holy days in the entire year for Jews, typically spent in congregation for much of the day. It begins at sundown the prior day. This is a happy holiday that brings family together to celebrate the new year., and there are songs and festive meals. Many attend synagogue and do not work or attend school.
Facts about Rosh Hashanah:
-Rosh Hashanah is a time for reflection and repentance.
-It is referred to as the “day of judgment.”
-According to the Talmud, the world was created on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Jewish calendar.
-The holiday is celebrated on the first and second days of Tishrei, which generally corresponds to September or October on the Gregorian calendar.
-Rosh Hashanah begins the High Holy Days or Ten Days of Penitence, which end with Yom Kippur.
-One of the most significant rituals during Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the Shofar, or ram’s horn. It is used as a call to repentance during the High Holy Days.
-During this time, Jewish people attend synagogue services and refrain from working.
-A popular practice is to eat apples dipped in honey, symbolizing the hope for a sweet year to come. Also, challah bread is baked in round loaves instead of braided loaves. The bread is dipped in honey instead of salt.
-Pomegranates are also eaten because the seeds are symbolic of the many commandments in the Torah that Jews must fulfill.
-Another popular ritual is to walk to a river or stream and recite special prayers of penitence. Afterward, one throws breadcrumbs in the river, to symbolically cast away sins.
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Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of Hispanic and Latino history and culture. While we celebrate Hispanic and Latino communites beyond this month, from September 15 to October 15 we give extra recognition to the many contributions made to the history and culture of the United States, including important advocacy work, vibrant art, popular and traditional foods, and much more.
Hispanic Heritage Month provides an additional opportunity to explore the incredible impact Latinas and Latinos have had on the United States for generations. The Latino presence in America spans centuries, predating Spain’s colonization of what is now part of the United States, and they have been an integral part of shaping our nation since the Revolutionary War. Through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the Treaty of Paris that followed the Mexican-American and Spanish-American wars, the United States gained territories in the Southwest and Puerto Rico. This incorporated the people of this area into the United States and further expanded the presence of Hispanic Americans.
Beginning in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week”, but it was later extended to a month in 1988. Since then, HHM has been celebrated nationwide through festivals, art shows, conferences, community gatherings, and much more. The month also celebrates the independence days of several Latin American countries, including: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on September 15th, Mexico on September 16th, and Chile on September 18th. They also include holidays that recognize Hispanic contributions such as Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship Day that is celebrated in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Today, the Latino population in the United States today is over 60 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This makes up 18.9% of the total population and is the largest racial or ethnic group. Latinos continue to help fuel our economy and enrich our nation as entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, entertainers, scientists, public servants, and much more.
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Independence Day (Día de la Independencia) is a Mexican national holiday that celebrates the day Miguel Hidalgo is believed to have made the cry of independence (El Grito de la Independencia) in the town of Dolores, in the north-central part of the Mexican state of Guanajuato.
Hidalgo was one of the nation’s leaders during the War of Independence in Mexico. There is no scholarly agreement on what was exactly said by Hidalgo, but his speech, also known as the cry of Dolores (el Grito de Dolores), was made on September 16, 1810 to motivate people to revolt against the Spanish regime. Hidalgo’s army fought against the Spanish soldiers in the fight for independence, but he was captured and executed on July 30, 1811. Mexico's independence was not declared until September 28, 1821.
Mexicans celebrate their country’s Independence Day with fireworks, parties (fiestas), food, dance and music on September 16. Flags, flowers and decorations in the colors of the Mexican flag – red, white and green – are seen in public areas in cities and towns in Mexico. Whistles and horns are blown and confetti is thrown to celebrate this festive occasion. "Viva Mexico" or "Viva la independencia” are shouted amidst the crowds on this day.
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Constitution Day (or Citizenship Day) is an American federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. It is normally observed on September 17, the day in 1787 that delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia. When it falls on a weekend or on another holiday, schools and other institutions observe the holiday on an adjacent weekday.
The law establishing the present holiday was created in 2004. Before this law was enacted, the holiday was known as "Citizenship Day" and celebrated on the third Sunday in May. In addition to renaming the holiday "Constitution Day and Citizenship Day," the act mandates that all publicly funded educational institutions, and all federal agencies, provide educational programming on the history of the American Constitution on that day. In May 2005, the United States Department of Education announced the enactment of this law and that it would apply to any school receiving federal funds of any kind.
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Autumnal Equinox
September 22, 2026
Autumnal Equinox
September 22, 2026
Autumnal equinox is one of the two moments in the year when the Sun is exactly above the Equator and day and night are of equal length; also, either of the two points in the sky where the ecliptic (the Sun’s annual pathway) and the celestial equator intersect. In the Northern Hemisphere the autumnal equinox falls about September 22 or 23, as the Sun crosses the celestial equator going south. In the Southern Hemisphere the equinox occurs on March 20 or 21, when the Sun moves north across the celestial equator. The name equinox comes from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night)
According to the astronomical definition of the seasons the September equinox is the first day of autumn for the Northern Hemisphere, and first day of spring for the Southern Hemisphere. The September equinox will fall at 12:44 UTC (7:44 a.m. CDT) on September 22, 2024.
As the September equinox rolls by, the chances to see the aurora borealis display increases for those located at high Northern Hemisphere latitudes. According to NASA, the equinoxes are prime time for Northern Lights—geomagnetic activities are twice more likely to take place in the spring and fall time, than in the summer or winter.
Many cultures around the world hold feasts and celebrate festivals and holidays to mark the September equinox.
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