April 8, 2024
Weekly global religious, spiritual and nonreligious observance information
The President's Committee on Religion, Spirituality and Nonreligious Diversity presents the global observance information for April 8-14.
Ramadan — March 11-April 10. Tradition: Islam. The Holy Month of Ramadan is the month of fasting during which Muslims who are physically able do not eat or drink from the first sign of dawn until sunset in honor of the first revelations to the Prophet Muhammad. The evening meal is celebrated with family.
Great Lent — March 18–May 4. Tradition: Christianity-Orthodox. In Orthodox churches, the Great Fast is a period of ascetic discipline, prayer and repentance in preparation for Holy Week and Easter, or Pascha.
Eid al-Fitr ('Id al-Fitr) — Tuesday, April 9, through Friday, April 12. Tradition: Islam. Also known as the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast. One of the two main Islamic festivals — the other is Eid al-Adha — this day celebrates the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. It comes on the first day of the next lunar month, Shawal.
Vaisakhi — Saturday, April 13. Tradition: Hinduism, Sikhism. Occurs on the first day of the solar year. It is primarily an agricultural festival, celebrating the harvest, and is especially important in North India. It is named after the month Vaisakh. For Sikhs, it is also the anniversary of the creation of the Khalsa — the "Brotherhood of the Pure" — in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh.
The President's Committee on Religious, Spiritual and Nonreligious Diversity welcomes those of all global religious, spiritual and nonreligious commitments. Further, we welcome any suggestions, questions or other comments. Please contact the committee’s chair, David Yetter, at dyetter@k-state.edu.