July 5 – 12 – NAIDOC Week (Australia) – NIADOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee and is a week-long celebration around Australia during the first week in July to focus on the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
July 6 – Dalai Lama’s Birthday (Tibet) – His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people. Born to a peasant family in northeastern Tibet, he was recognized as the 14th Dalai Lama (Mongolian for “Ocean of Wisdom”). In Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama is believed to be an incarnation of Avalokitesvara, the Buddha of Compassion.
July 7 – Wassana (Buddhist) – This day marks the beginning of the 3 month “Rains Retreat” for self-examination and peace-making for monks and nuns. It also celebrates the Buddha’s first teaching.
July 7 – Tanabata (Japan) – Meaning “Seven Evenings” is a Japanese star festival, derived from Obon traditions and the Chinese star festival, Qi Xi. The festival is usually held on July 7, and celebrates the meeting of Orihime (Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altair). The Milky Way, a river made from stars that crosses the sky, separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year. This special day is the seventh day of the seventh lunar cycle.
July 9 – Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha’i) – The Bab was executed at the age of 31 by firing squad in Tabriz in 1850 C.E. The event is observed at noon. Work and commerce are suspended on this day.
July 11 – Imamat Day (Islam Ismaili) – Imamat Day is celebrated every year by Ismailis on the day that the Imamat or religious leader transferred from the past Imam to the present Aga Khan.
July 11 – Nadaam Festival (Mongolia) – The festival lasts for three days where the men compete in the Three Manly national sports of archery, wrestling and horse riding.
Source: www.multiculturalcalendars.com
Part of a posting series on multicultural events for 2009.
Filed under: Blog, Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion
