Faith & Spirituality Centre - UCalgary

Today marks the birth of the Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí faith. According to the Baháʼu'lláh, the two days comemorating the births are seen to be one in the 'sight of God' and are referred to as the 'twin birthdays'. On this day, the Baháʼí community should rejoice together to increase unity, and prayer is shared in a celebration.

On this day, the Báb, founder of Bábism and a central figure to the Baha'i faith, was born. He was originally a merchant from Iran, who claimed to be a messenger of God. He took the title Báb, Arabic for "gate" or "door", as a reference associated with the promised Twelver Mahdi. He became central to the Baha'i faith, as the Baháʼu'lláh was a follower of the Báb. Bábism is considerd to be a predecessor who paved the way for their own religion.

Diwali is one of the biggest and most important Hindu holidays in the year. Diwali is the Hindu festival of light and is actually five days long, although the main event is usually done on the third day, this year 4 November. It is a festival which symbolizes the "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance." During Diwali, people will wear their finest clothes, illuminate the interior and exterior of their homes with oil lamps or candles, offer worship to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth, and partake in a family feast. Diwali is widely celebrated by the Hindu diaspora, as well as Jains and Sikhs.

Happy Vikram Samvat!
In the early morning of the first day of the new year, Ganadhar Gautamswami, the first disciple of Lord Mahavir, attained absolute enlightenment. Jains begin the new year with the glorification of Lord Gautamswami; and listen with devotion to the nine Stotras holy hymns and with listening to the auspicious Rasa (epical poem) of Gautamswami from their Guru Maharaj.

All Saints' Day is celebrated on this day to honour all saints, known and unknown, in Western Christianity. This day stems from the belief that there is a powerful spiritual bond between those in heaven and the living. In the Catholic tradition, it commemorates all those in heaven. In the Methodist tradition, the day is about "God giving thanks for the lives and death of his saints."

Happy Samhain! Samhain celebrates the Celtic New Year. The dying God returns to the womb of the Goddess in prepartion for rebirth at Yule. The souls of those who have died during the turning of the past year's wheel are bid farewell. The also marks the third and final harvest.

Karva Chauth is a 1 day Hindu festival that is celebrated 4 days after the new moon. It is usually only celebrated in Northern India. Married women would do a fast from sunrise to moonrise for the safety and longevity of their husbands. Women traditionally do no housework, and apply henna and other cosmetics before attending a women only ceremony.

Today marks the installation of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji which celebrates the passing of the Guruship to the Holy Scriptures by the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

Mawlid al-Nabi is the anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Some Muslims mark this occasion by fasting or with parades, special prayers or conferences. Other Muslims may mark the occasion by dedicating more time to read the Quran.

Aymbil Ori is a 9 day festival, occurring twice a year, when devout Jains undertake a special type of fasting.

Happy Navaratri! Navaratri is typically a nine night festival that honors the Mother Goddess in all her manifestations, including Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. It is a festival characterized by worship and dance. The festival culminates with Dussehra, the victory of good over evil, on the tenth day.

Today marks the anniversary of the death of Bodhidharma, the 28th patriarch in the Zen tradition, who brought the Zen transmission from India to China.