Skip to navigation | Skip to main content | Skip to footer
Menu
Search the University of Manchester siteSearch Menu StaffNet

Religious Celebrations and Awareness Days this March

08 Mar 2024

Observing religious celebrations this March

Religious Celebrations this March

Following our 2024 EDI Diversity Calendar, we focus on the six major world faiths currently represented within our community – Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Sikhism. This does not mean we do not recognise that there are many more faiths equally as important. We also recognise that a large proportion of our community may have no religion or belief or mark Atheist Day (Saturday, 23 March) or other secular events.

This March we recognise that many members of our University community will be observing a variety of religious traditions and celebrations, including: 

  • Mahashivratri,  Hindu festival that celebrates Lord Shiva – Friday, 8 March
  • Ramadan ( Muslim) a month of fasting and prayer, and one of the five pillars of Islam begins on  Sunday, 10 March - Download our Managers Guidance for Staff and Students
  • Nowruz, Persian New Year – Wednesday, 20 March
  • Purim, a Jewish festival that celebrates Esther from the Hebrew Bible – Saturday, 23 to Sunday 24 March  
  • Holi, a Hindu spring festival known as the Festival of Colours – Monday, 25 March 
  • Hola Mohalla, a Sikh festival that celebrates courage and unity - Monday 25 to Wednesday, 27 Mar
  • Easter, a Christian festival that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus - Friday, 29 March to Sunday, 31 March

More information 

We aim to take an integrated approach that celebrates individuals and their many identities to ensure that we are truly inclusive of all our community. This is set out in our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy.  Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Religion or belief (including no belief);    

Support  

If during this celebratory time of year, you may be away from friends and family, University-wide support is available such as: