DIVERSITY DATELINE

Holiday or Observance    Religious Group                    Date

Magha Puja Day                 Buddhist                     February 12 or 13, 2025

Lailat al Bara’ah                 Muslim                       February 13 (evening)

or February 14, 2025

Nirvana Day                       Buddhist                     February 15, 2025

President’s Day                  USA secular               February 17, 2025

Maha Shivaratri                 Hindu                          February 25/26, 2025

Ramadan                            Muslim                       February 28 (evening) –

March30 (evening) 2025

• Magha Puja Day is also known as Sangha Day. It is a celebration in honor of the Buddhist community and commemorates the first gathering of 1,250 monks who were ordained by Gautama Buddha.
• Lailat al Bara’ah is also known as the Night of Forgiveness. On this night, God fixes people’s destiny for the coming year.  It is marked with prayer and fasting.
• Nirvana this day is an opportunity to reflect on one’s future death and on people one has known who have recently died. Nirvana is the cessation of all existence which is achieved at death.
• President’s Day is a federal holiday (USA) celebrated annually on the third Monday of February and celebrates the life and achievements of all former and current presidents of the United States. It is held on this date because it falls on or near the birthday of George Washington, the first President of the United States.
• Maha Shivaratri in the United States is annual festival honoring Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction. People celebrate by fasting for a whole day and staying awake all night.
• Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide. It is a month of fasting (sawm), prayer(salah), reflection, and community. Muslims hold that all scripture was revealed during Ramadan.

Holiday/Observance                                                                       Date

Black History Month                                                                February 1-28, 2025

Ground Hog Day                                                                         February 2, 2025

National Carrot Cake Day                                                           February 3, 2025

National Girls and Women in Sports Day                              February 5, 2025

Chocolate Day                                                                             February 9, 2025

International Day of Women and Girls in Science                February 11, 2025

Valentine’s Day                                                                           February 14, 2025

Susan B. Anthony’s Birthday                                                  February 15, 2025

Random Acts of Kindness Day                                                   February 17, 2025

National Chocolate Mint Day                                                     February 19, 2025

World Day of Social Justice                                                     February 20, 2025