The 14 Most Celebrated Religious Events in the World!
To be religious in many aspects of life is a concept/ideology which is based upon the golden rule of inheriting the culture adopted by parents or other ancestors. Every religion has some of its own spiritual events and all of them eventually become part of our character, and even though the celebrations are focusing on different aspects of religion from one culture or nation to another, their respect and reverence to deity binds them as one.
Here is a list containing some of the largest religious events being celebrated in the world:
14. Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh
According to the Sikh Nanakshahi calendar, this day marks the birth of the tenth and final Sikh prophet-teacher Guru Gobind Singh – who introduced many of the customs that Sikhs practice today including the 5 K’s.
Guru Gobind was born in Patna, Bihar on 22 December 1666 CE. His birthday generally falls in December or January (or occasionally twice within one year) when calculated according to the Hindu Bikrami calendar.
13. Navratri
Navratri – the major Hindu festival – literally means NINE NIGHTS, and is one of the few festivals in the world that people celebrate four times a year. During the event, Hindus worship the Divine Mother as the main theme. It is usually celebrated at the beginning of spring and autumn. The celebration is divided into three days, adoring the various aspects of the gods and goddesses.
12. Setsubun
Blooming cherry blossoms all over, with people sharing meals together on a picnic setting, looking at the majestic view of Mt. Fuji on some places. This is how Setsubun has been pictured in the minds of many people all over the world. This celebration marks the welcoming of spring, apart from the cold and chilly season of winter. They offer their prayers in a Shinto temple for good luck and fortune. Throwing beans all over the place is their way of warding evil spirits away.
11. Epiphany
Christians all over the world commemorates this day to mark the visit of the wise men or the MIGO to the baby Jesus. It is celebrated on the twelfth day of Christmas.
10. Makar Sankranti
It means to go from one place to another. It also means one meets another or changes the direction because it is celebrated when the sun changes direction from one constellation of the zodiac to another is known as Makar Sankranti.
People take dips in rivers and worship the Sun God especially in the holy Ganges River. The dip is said to purify the self and bestow PUNYA. Special worshipping is offered as a thanksgiving for good harvest.
It is celebrated in mid-winter and marks the transition of the sun from the Sagittarius to Capricorn during the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.
9. Pentecost
Literally interpreted as the FIFTIETH DAY, the celebration of Pentecost is a reminder of the giving of the Ten Commandments, fifty days after the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. It is also celebrated at the time when the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ had received the endowment of the Gift of the Holy Ghost through the tongue of fire that symbolized its presence.
8. Krishna Janmashtami
This day marks the birth of Lord Vishnu’s avatar Krishna. This is when Rasa Lila is being played to portray the life of Krishna, and showing his fun filled youthful days.
7. Tu B’Shevat (The New Year of Trees)
Celebrated on the fifteenth day of Jewish month of Shivat, Tu B’Shevat is a religious event when people belonging to this religion plant trees in the memory of their loved ones and eat fruits.
6. Chinese New Year
Celebrated in the world’s most populous country, the new moon experienced on the new lunar calendar is the mark of this very colorful, lively, and religious celebration. Fireworks in the sky symbolize of the flourishing of the heavens, and firecrackers are used to ward of devils so that people will not have bad luck.
5. Diwali
It is best known as the FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS since it unifies Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, in celebrating one event, even though they have different reasons on why and how it is celebrated. At this time, lamps are lit to show that good reigns over evil. All the celebrants wear new clothes and share treats with family members and friends.
4. Easter
Christians celebrate this day largely because they take it as the day when Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, after the third day he was crucified on the cross. Easter is about the standing witness that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. There were also other adaptations of its celebration, where children find painted eggs or thinking of the Easter bunny.
3. Ramadan
This is the month of fasting where Muslims are abstained from eating, drinking, smoking, love making, and even engaging in worldly pursuits, during the hours of the day. This is done for Allah – the Almighty being – and for showing their sincerity and submissiveness to His will.
2. Christmas
It is celebrated on the 25th of December in many countries all over the world to mark the birth of Prophet Jesus. It has been a worldwide celebration of the birth of the Savior, even Jesus Christ, in the city of Bethlehem. This is every kid’s favorite religious event.
1. Hajj
Celebrated on the 8th to 12th day of Islamic month Dhu al-Hijjah, this is the only religious event in the world that has the most number of visitors, pilgrims, and passage seekers from all the corners of the earth. Whether it may be a Muslim member in Indonesia, or somewhere in the United States, they will find a way to earn money for a ticket to get to Mecca at least once in their lifetime, or every time if they have the financial means to do so.
