Today@Dal

Each year the Dalhousie Office of Human Rights, Equity & Harassment Prevention (HREHP) develops a mosaic calendar of religious holidays and cultural dates for faculty, staff and students.

See below for a sample of April dates to observe, reflect, celebrate or promote throughout the university community. The complete calendar is available on the website, http://hrehp.dal.ca/Calendar/

Reminder: The Jewish/Muslim calendar date begins at sundown of the night beforehand. Thus all holiday observances begin at sundown on the secular dates listed, with the following day being the first full day of the holiday

April 1-2
Last two days of Passover (Pesach)

April 2

World Autism Awareness Day

April 4
Bikarami Samvat (HI)
(New Year’s Day) - Year 2069 begins

April 5
Mahavira Jayanti (JA)
In Jainism, Mahavira Jayanti is the most important religious holiday. It celebrates of the birth of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara

Louise Pitre's Broadway Showstoppers
Canada’s reigning “first lady of musical theatre” brings Broadway’s biggest, boldest showstoppers to Symphony Nova Scotia for the very first time! After commanding lead roles in dozens of musicals, including a Tony-nominated turn in Mamma Mia!, the sensational Louise Pitre takes the Rebecca Cohn stage to perform hits from Les Misérables, Gypsy, Wonderful Town, Oliver, Mamma Mia!, and so much more.
Rebecca Cohn Auditorium
6101 University Ave
Halifax, NS

April 7
Yom Hashoah (JU)
Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day"), known colloquially in Israel and abroad as Yom HaShoah (יום השואה) and in English as Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Holocaust Day, is observed as Israel's day of commemoration for the approximately six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust as a result of the actions carried out by Nazi Germany and its accessories, and for the Jewish resistance in that period. In Israel, it is a national memorial day and public holiday. It was inaugurated on 1953, anchored by a law signed by the Prime Minister of Israel David Ben-Gurion and the President of Israel Yitzhak Ben-Zvi. It is held on the 27th of Nisan (April/May), unless the 27th would be adjacent to Shabbat, in which case the date is shifted by a day.  In other countries there are different commemorative days

April 9
Jalal (Baha’i)
(Glory), the 2nd Baha’i month

April 11
Hindu New Year (HI)
Akshaya-tritiya (JA)
AkshayaTritiya is one of the sacred festivals on persons of Indian descent. Akshaya Tritiya is observed on the third day of the bright half of the Vaisakha month is considered to be the four most sacred days of the year according to the Indian calendar.

April 13-14
Saka New Year (BU)
Is a religious and cultural celebration for Sinhalese, Indians, Burmese, Kampucheans, Laotians and Thais.

April 20
Ramanavami (HI)
Ram Navami is the celebration of the birthday of Rama, a divine figure in Hinduism.

April 25
Hanuman Jayanti (HI)
Hanumath Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Hanuman, the Vanara god, widely venerated throughout India. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the Shukla Paksha, during the month of Chaitra (the Chaitra Pournimaa). Hanuman is an ardent devotee of Lord Rama, and is worshipped for his unflinching devotion to the god. From early morning, devotees flock Hanuman temples to worship him.

Mahavir Jayanti (Ja)
April 21 – May 2
In Jainism, Mahavir Jayanti, also known as Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, is the most important religious holiday. It celebrates the birth of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara. On the Gregorian calendar, the holiday occurs either in March or April.

Ridvan (BA)
Ridvan commemorates the 12 days that Baha'u'llah spent in the garden of Ridvan in the last days of his exile in Baghdad, and during which time he proclaimed himself as the one announced by the Bab. On the first, ninth, and twelfth days of Ridvan   work is suspended

April 30 – May 4
Ghambar Maidyozarem (ZO)
Celebration of creation of sky and harvesting of winter crops.