Muharram
Culture/religion: Islamic
Date: August 10
Muharram, one of the four sacred months of the year for Muslims, is the first month of the Islamic calendar and marks the beginning of the Islamic New Year.
Muharram means “forbidden” and because it is holy, many Muslims use this as a time of prayer and reflection. Many Muslims consider this a solemn time and do not take part in any joyous events. The new year is celebrated by visiting the mosque to pray for well-being and by spending time with family and loved ones.
Sources:
What is Muharram? Five Things You Need to Know about Islamic New Year, Times of India
Obon

Culture/religion: Buddhist
Date: August 13-15
An annual Japanese festival honoring one’s ancestors. The three-day festival has been celebrated for more than 500 years and it is believed that ancestors’ spirits return during this time to visit their relatives.
During Obon, lanterns are hung on houses to guide the ancestors’ spirits, Obon dances are performed, graves are visited and food offerings are made to altars and temples. At the end of Obon, the lanterns are placed in rivers, lakes and seas to guide the ancestors’ spirits back to their world.
Sources:
Bon Festival, Wikipedia
Obon, Japan Guide
Qixi Festival
Culture/religion: Chinese heritage
Date: August 14
Also known as Chinese Valentine’s Day, the festival is based on a romantic legend about a weaver girl and an ox herd. The festival is also known as Double Seventh Festival because it is celebrated on the 7th day in the 7th month of the Chinese lunar calendar.
Pronunciation: ‘Chee-she’
Sources:
Double Seventh Festival, China Highlights