Several important Hindu holidays include Navaratri, Dussehra, and Diwali. Check out this multi-religious calendar from Yale to save the dates for holidays for the 2024/25 AY and this one from Virginia Tech for 25/26. You may have questions about Hindu holidays and how they are celebrated. The teaching tips and presentation below were curated in collaboration with a fellow UNCG faculty member, Dr. Sudha Shreeniwas, to help support your work with students and colleagues.
- Which dates do the holidays fall on in 2024 and why are these holidays celebrated on different days every year? Navaratri means ‘nine nights’ and in 2024, it falls on October 3rd through 11th, 2024. Dussehra, also called Dasara, is on October 12th, 2024. Diwali, also called Deepavali is on October 31st, 2024. The Hindu calendar is a lunisolar calendar, based on both lunar cycles (to set weeks and months) and solar cycles (to set days and years). That’s why the dates of the holidays differ in the Western calendar each year.
- What should I be aware of for my Hindu students and colleagues? Students may want some time flexibility around these dates to enable them to attend celebrations and yet keep up with their work. There is a lot of feasting involved, so if you get an invitation or are offered sweets, it’s an honor you should consider accepting or find a very tactful and polite way of declining. Ask about dress codes if any (bling and colorful and a little conservative is always safe for all genders). More information about these celebrations is available in the presentation below.
- What should I say to my Hindu students around these holidays? You can wish students and colleagues a very happy Navaratri at the start of the season. You can wish them a very happy Diwali on Diwali. You could wish them a happy and prosperous festival season.
Access the presentation here to learn more about the important Hindu holidays: Navaratri, Dussehra, and Diwali.