Navaratri
Culture/religion: Hindu
Date: October 17-25
Navaratri (“nine nights”) is a Hindu festival in honor of the divine feminine goddess, Durga. The festival is celebrated in autumn for nine nights and ten days. The legend of Navaratri tells of the victory of Durga over the demon king Mahishasura. Each day of the festival is dedicated to each of the nine forms of the goddess.
Navaratri is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of India. During the festival, some devotees of Durga fast and pray for the protection of their health and property and wear different colors of clothing each day.
Sources:
Navaratri – All You Need to Know, Asia Highlights
Birth of the Bab
Culture/religion: Bahá’í
Date: October 18
Siyyid Ali-Muhammad was born on October 20, 1819 in Shiraz, Persia (now Iran), and claimed to be the promised redeemer of Islam, thereby becoming known as the Báb, which means “the gate.” The Báb was a prophet and the founder of Bábism and is one of the central figures of the Bahá’í faith.
The Birth of the Báb is one of several Bahá’í holy days on which work is to be suspended and begins with prayers and devotional readings leading up to a festive social gathering.
Pronunciation:
Bahá’í: Ba-HIGH
Báb: Bahb (Bob)
Sources:
About the Birth of the Báb, Bahá’í Blog
The Birth of the Báb, BBC; Báb, Wikipedia
Style guide, glossary and pronunciation guide, Bahá’í World News Service