Today@Dal

See below for a sample of dates to observe, reflect, celebrate or promote throughout the university community. The full calendar is available on the website, http://multifaithcalendar.org/cal/index.php

March 8
International Women’s Day (UN)
Based on a UN resolution of 1977, the International Women’s Day is annually observed on March 8 as an official UN event to commemorate the historic struggle to improve women’s lives. It is celebrated around the world at the local and national level.

March 9
Ta’anit Ester (JU)
Also known as the Fast of Esther, this is a Jewish fast from dawn-to-dusk on the eve of Purim, which commemorates the three-day fast observed by the Jewish people in the story of Purim. Since the Fast of Esther is not one of the four public fasts ordained by the Prophets, the laws are more lenient; pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those who are weak are not required to observe it.

March 11
Purim (JU)
A Jewish Holiday, where work should be avoided. The holiday commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from destruction in the wake of a plot by Haman, a story recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther.

March 12
Magha Puja Day (BU)
Magha Puja day is an important Buddhist festival celebrated in Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos on the full moon day of the third lunar month (this usually falls in February). The third lunar month is known in the Thai language as Makha (in Pali as Māgha); Bucha is also a Thai word (in Pali, Pūjā), meaning "to venerate" or "to honor." As such, Makha Bucha Day is for the veneration of Buddha and his teachings on the full moon day of the third lunar month. The spiritual aims of the day are not to commit any kind of sins to do only good, and to purify one's mind.