The Equality and Inclusion Unit (EIU) calendar highlights key dates of awareness and religious observance from a number of world faiths.

This calendar is a valuable resource to support inclusive timetabling and event planning. It enable line managers to respond confidently to requests for annual leave or flexible hours on the grounds of religious belief. While not every observance has been included, the EIU has selected a range of major dates. Additional religions and beliefs may be included in future calendars.

Annually the University, the EIU, Staff Equity Networks and communities across the University may celebrate a variety of awareness dates, including dates not listed in this calendar. Faculties, departments, services and teams are encouraged to acknowledge dates of particular significance to their area of work or to colleagues.

(*) - starting and ending at sunset

(**) - start time dependent on sighting of the moon

September 2024

• 1 to 30 – East and South East Asian Heritage Month
• 1 – Sikhism: First Parkash
• 6 – Hinduism: Ganesh Chaturthi
• 11 – Hinduism: Radhashtami
• **15 to 16 – Islam: Milad-un-Nabī / Birth day of Prophet Muhammad
• 22 – Wicca/Pagan: Autumn Equinox/ Mabon
• 23 – International Day of Sign Languages
• 23 – Bisexual Visibility Day
• 26 – European Commission European Day of Languages

October 2024

• 1 to 31 – Black History Month
• 1 – UN International Day of Older Persons
• *2 to 4 – Judaism: Rosh Hashanah (work not permitted)
• 3 to 12 – Hinduism – Navratri
• *6 – Judaism: Fast of Gedaliah
• 9 to 15 – Baby Loss Awareness Week
• 10 – UN World Mental Health Day
• 10 – World Sight Day
• 11 – National Coming Out Day
• *11 to 12 – Judaism: Yom Kippur (work not permitted)
• 12 – Hinduism: Vijayadashami/ Dusshera
• *16 to 23 – Judaism: Sukkot (work not permitted until 19 October)
• 18 – World Menopause Day
• 20 – Sikhism: Installation of the Guru Granth Sahib
• *24 to 25 – Judaism: Simchat Torah (work not permitted)
• 31 – Christianity: All Hallows’ Eve
• 31 – Wicca/Pagan: Samhain/Hallowe’en

November 2024

• 1 to 30 – Islamophobia Awareness Month
• 1 – Christianity: All Saints Day
• 1 - Hinduism/Sikhism/ Jainism: Diwali
• 2 – Bahá’í:: Birth of the Bàb (Work not permitted)
• 2 – Christianity: All Souls Day
• 3 – Bahá’í: Birth of Bahá’u’llah (work not permitted)
• 7 – Hinduism: Chhath Puja - Hinduism
• 15 – Sikhism: Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib
• 15 – Hinduism/Sikhism/Jainism:  Karthik Purnima
• 16 November to 16 December – UK Disability History Month
• 19 – International Men’s Day
• 20 – Trans Day of Remembrance
• 25 – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls
• 25 November to 10 December – UN 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence
• 25 – Bahá’í: Day of the Covenant
• 27 – Bahá’í: Ascension of Abdu’l-Bahá

December 2024

• 1 – World AIDS Day
• 2 – UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities
• 8 – Buddhism: Bodhi Day
• 15 – Hinduism: Dhanu Sakranti
• 21 – Wicca/Pagan: Winter Solstice/Yule
• 24 – Christianity: Christmas Eve
• 25 – Christianity: Christmas Day
• *25 December to 2 January 2025 – Judaism: Hanukkah/Chanukah
• 28 – Christianity: Holy Innocents

 January 2025

• 6 – Christianity: Epiphany
• 7 – Christianity (Orthodox): Christmas Day
• 6 – Sikhism: Birth day of Guru Gobind Singh
• 10 – Judaism: Asarah B’Tevet
• 13 – Sikhism: Maghi
• 14 – Buddhism: Mahayana New Year
• 27 – Holocaust Memorial Day
• 27 – Islam: Lailat-al-Miraj
• 29 – Lunar New Year/Chinese New Year

February 2025

• 1 to 7 – UN Interfaith Harmony Week
• 1 to 28 – LGBT History Month
• 2 – Hinduism: Vasant Panchami
• 3 to 9 – Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week
• 3 to 9 – Race Equality Week
• 12 – Buddhism: Magha Puja Day
• 15 – Buddhism: Nirvana Day
• 25 to 28 – Bahai: Intercalary Days
• 26 to 27 – Hinduism: Maha Shivrati
• **28 February to 30 March – Islam: Ramadan

March 2025

• 1 – UN Zero Discrimination Day
• 1 – Christianity/Wicca/Pagan: Imbolc
• 1 to 19 – Bahai: Nineteen Day Fast
• 4 – Christianity: Shrove Tuesday
• 5 – Christianity: Ash Wednesday
• 5 March to 19 April – Christianity: Lent
• 8 – International Women’s Day
• 13 – University Mental Health Day
• *13 to 14 – Judaism: Purim
• 14 – Hinduism/Sikhism: Holi
• 14 to 16 – Sikhism: Hola Mohalla
• 15 – UN International Day to Combat Islamophobia
• 20 – Bahá’í: Naw Rùz (work not permitted)
• 20 – Wicca/Pagan: Spring Equinox/Ostara
• 21 – UN International Day for the Elimination of Racism
• 30 March to 7 April – Hinduism: Vasant Navrati
• **30 to 31 – Islam: Eid al-Fitr
• 31 – Trans Day of Visibility

April 2025

• 2 – UN World Autism Day
• 6 – Hinduism: Rama Navami
• 12 to 13 – Hinduism – Hanuman Jayanti
• *12 to 20 – Judaism: Passover / Pesach
• 13 – Buddhism: Theravada New Year
• 13 – Christianity: Palm Sunday
• 14 – Sikhism/Hindiusm: Vaisakhi
• 18 – Christianity: Good Friday
• 20 – Christianity: Easter Sunday
• 14 – Sikhism: Vaisakhi
• 20 – Bahá’í: First Day of Ridvàn (work not permitted)
• 22 – Stephen Lawrence Day
• 28 – Bahá’í: Ninth Day of Ridvàn (work not permitted)
• 26 – Lesbian Visibility Day

May 2025

• 1 – Bahá’í: Twelfth Day of Ridvàn (work not permitted)
• 5 to 11 – Deaf Awareness Week
• 12 – Buddhism: Vesak
• 15 – Global Accessibility Awareness Day
• 17 – International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT)
• 23 – Bahá’í: Declaration of the Bàb (work not permitted)
• 28 – Bahá’í: Ascension of the Bahá’u’llah (work not permitted)
• 29 – Christianity: Ascension Day
• 30 – Sikhism: Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji

Dates tbc: Africa week

June 2025

• 1 to 30 – Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) History Month
• 1 to 30 – LGBT Pride Month
• 1 – Hinduism: Sitalsasthi
• *1 to 3 – Judaism: Shavuot
• **4 to 9 – Islam: Hajj
• **6 to 7 – Islam: Eid al-Adha
• 8 – Christianity: Pentecost
• 9 to 15 – Carers Week
• 15 – UN World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
• 15 to 21 – Refugee Week
• 21 – Wicca/Pagan: Summer solstice/ Litha
• 22 to 28 – Deafblind Awareness Week
• 22 – Windrush Day
• **26 to 27 Islam: Muharram

July 2025

• 1 to 31: Disability Pride Month
• **4 to 5 – Islam: Ashura
• 9 – Bahá’í: Martyrdom of the Bàb (work not permitted)
• 10 – Buddhism – Dharma Day
• 10 – Hinduism: Guru Purnima
• *13 July to 3 August – Judaism: The Three weeks, Judaism
• 18 July to 17 August – South Asian Heritage Month
• 20 – Leeds Pride

August 2025

• 1– Wicca/Pagan: Lughnassadh/Lamas
• *2 to 3 – Judaism: Tisha B’Av (work not permitted morning)
• 8 – Hinduism: Rakshabandhan/Rakhi
• 13 – Buddhism: Obon
• 15 – Christianity: Assumption Day
• 16 – Hinduism: Krishnashtami
• *18 to 19 – Judaism: Tu B’Av (work permitted)
• 31 – UN International Day for People of African Descent