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Religious awareness days this May and June

10 May 2024

Observing religious celebrations this May and June

Religious Celebrations

We recognise that many members of our University community will be observing a variety of religious traditions and celebrations in the coming weeks. They include:

  • Thursday, 23 May - Vesak (Buddhist) is a significant Buddhist holiday commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha.
  • Monday, 10 June, Guru Arjan Shaheedi (Sikh)  is an important Sikh Festival that marks the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev.  
  • Friday, 14 to Wednesday, 19 June Hajj (Muslim) is the pinnacle of the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, where millions of Muslims gather to perform sacred rituals, symbolizing unity, devotion, and spiritual renewal.
  • Sunday, 16 to Thursday, 20 June, Eid al-Adha (Muslim) as part of the last rituals of Hajj, celebrates Ibrahim's devotion, marked by prayer, sacrifice, feasting, and charity, reflecting unity, gratitude, and compassion within the Muslim community.
  • Tuesday, 11 to Thursday, 13 June - Shavot (Jewish) festival marking the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, observed with study, prayer, and dairy foods.
  • Thursday, 20 June – Summer Solstice, marks the longest day and shortest night of the year, occurring when the sun reaches its highest point.

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 observe other secular events.

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  

During this time of religious observance; you may be away from friends and family, University-wide support is available: