Welcome to TIO’s Religious Calendar

september 2026

Tuesday, September 1

Religious Year Begins — Orthodox Christianity
The Orthodox liturgical calendar begins on September 1 with the Feast of the Indiction, a day the Ecumenical Patriarchate has also designated for prayer for the protection of creation.

First Parkash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji – Sikhism
Commemorates the first installation of the Sikh scripture at Sri Harmandir Sahib in 1604 by Guru Arjan Dev Ji. This is the fixed Nanakshahi date; communities using the Bikrami reckoning observe it on September 12.

Thursday, September 3

Sri Krishna Jayanti or Krishna Janmashtami – Hinduism [Ends September 4]
A festival celebrating the birth of Krishna, the eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu, whose purpose was to destroy the demon Kansa who was responsible for evil's increase in the world.

Friday, September 4

Krishna Janmashtami and Dahi Handi – Hinduism
The widely observed civil date for Krishna's birth in the United States, marked with fasting, night vigils, and the Dahi Handi tradition of forming human pyramids to break a suspended pot of curd.

Saturday, September 5

Leil Selichot – Judaism
The first communal recitation of Selichot, penitential prayers said late on Saturday night into the early hours of September 6, opening the Ashkenazi season of repentance before the High Holy Days.

Monday, September 7

Aja Ekadashi – Hinduism
A Vishnu fast observed on the eleventh lunar day of the waning fortnight of Bhadrapada.

Tuesday, September 8

'Izzat – Bahá'í
The beginning of the tenth month of the Bahá'í year, meaning "might." The Bahá'í day begins at sunset, so the month opens on the evening of September 7.

Nativity of the Mother of God (Theotokos) or Birth of the Blessed Virgin – Christianity
This festival celebrates the birth of Mary, the mother of Jesus of Nazareth. In Eastern Orthodox churches she is known by the honorific of Theotokos. Old Calendar Orthodox churches observe it on September 21.

Paryushana Parva begins – Jainism [Ends September 15]
The most important annual observance for Śvetāmbara Jains, an eight-day festival of fasting, scriptural reading, reflection, and seeking forgiveness, concluding with Samvatsari.

Friday, September 11

Coptic New Year (Nayrouz) — Coptic Orthodox Christianity
The first day of Thout, beginning Coptic year 1743. Nayrouz commemorates the Coptic martyrs, and the Coptic year begins on September 11 in the Gregorian calendar, or September 12 in the year before a Gregorian leap year.

Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash) — Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity
Enkutatash is the name for the Ethiopian New Year and means "gift of jewels" in the Amharic language. The story goes back almost 3,000 years to the Queen of Sheba of ancient Ethiopia and Yemen, who was returning from a trip to visit King Solomon of Israel in Jerusalem. When the Queen returned to Ethiopia, her chiefs welcomed her with enku, or jewels, to replenish her treasury. The day falls on Meskerem 1, beginning Ethiopian year 2019, and marks renewal at the close of the rainy season.

Beheading of St. John the Baptist – Christianity [Orthodox churches using the Old Calendar]
Old Calendar Orthodox communities commemorate the martyrdom of John the Baptist on this date and keep it as a strict one-day fast.

Erev Rosh Hashanah – Judaism
Rosh Hashanah 5787 begins at sundown.

Saturday, September 12

Rosh Hashanah – Judaism [Ends September 13]
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, is the anniversary of the creation of humanity and opens the Ten Days of Repentance. It is marked by the sounding of the shofar, festive meals, and prayer. The observance begins at sundown on September 11.

Pehla Prakash Gurpurab of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji – Sikhism
The Bikrami reckoning of the first installation of the Sikh scripture, observed with continuous scripture reading, kirtan, and langar. Communities using the fixed Nanakshahi calendar observe it on September 1.

Paitishahem Gahambar begins – Zoroastrianism [Ends September 16]
One of the six seasonal feasts of the Zoroastrian year, celebrating the harvest and the creation of the earth, observed in the Fasli calendar with communal prayer and shared meals.

Rabi' al-Thani begins – Islam
The beginning of the fourth month of the Hijri year. Date is projected and subject to local moon sighting.

Monday, September 14

Vinayaka Chaturthi - Birth of Ganesh Chaturthi – Hinduism [Ends September 25]
Vinayaka Chaturthi is a 10-day festival marking the birth of the elephant-headed deity Ganesha, the god of prosperity and wisdom. It begins on the fourth day (chaturthi) of the month of Bhadrapada, the sixth month of the Hindu calendar, and concludes with Ganesha Visarjan on September 25.

Elevation or Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Christianity
This day recognizes the Cross as a symbol of Christ's love for humankind and God's victory over death. It also marks the finding of the Holy Cross by St. Helen after it had been stolen in the 7th century C.E.

Fast of Gedaliah (Tzom Gedaliah) – Judaism
A dawn-to-nightfall fast commemorating the assassination of Gedaliah, governor of Judah. Normally kept on 3 Tishrei, it is deferred to September 14 in 2026 because 3 Tishrei falls on Shabbat.

Tuesday, September 15

Samvatsari – Jainism
The concluding and holiest day of Paryushana Parva for Śvetāmbara Jains, devoted to universal forgiveness, when Samvatsari Pratikraman is performed and the words Micchāmi Dukkaḍaṃ are offered to seek and grant pardon.

Das Laxanä Parva [Daslakshan Parva] begins – Jainism [Ends September 24]
The Festival of the Ten Virtues, celebrated over ten days by the Digambara Jains, helps believers to recall and practice forgiveness, tenderness or humility, honesty, contentment or purity, truth, self-restraint, austerities, charity, celibacy, and non-attachment.

Our Lady of Sorrows – Christianity [Catholic churches]
Kept the day after the Exaltation of the Cross, this memorial honors the Seven Sorrows of Mary and her share in the suffering of her son.

Wednesday, September 16

Joti Jot of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji and Sri Guru Ram Das Ji; Gurgaddi of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji – Sikhism
A fixed Nanakshahi date commemorating the passing of the third and fourth Sikh Gurus and the accession of the fifth Guru to Guruship.

Thursday, September 17

Vishwakarma Puja and Kanya Sankranti – Hinduism
Honors Vishwakarma, the divine architect and patron of artisans, craftspeople, and engineers, observed on the day the sun enters Virgo and tools and workplaces are blessed.

Sangrand (Assu) – Sikhism
The first day of the Nanakshahi month of Assu, marked in gurdwaras with the reading of the relevant passage of the Barah Maha.

Friday, September 18

Gurgaddi of Sri Guru Angad Sahib Ji – Sikhism
A fixed Nanakshahi date marking the accession of the second Sikh Guru to Guruship.

Jor Mela at Gurdwara Kandh Sahib, Batala – Sikhism
A commemorative fair marking the marriage anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Saturday, September 19

Radha Ashtami – Hinduism
Marks the appearance of Radha Rani, the consort of Krishna, observed by Vaishnava communities with fasting, devotional singing, and temple worship.

Sunday, September 20

Erev Yom Kippur – Judaism
Yom Kippur begins at sundown, preceded by a festive afternoon meal and the recitation of Kol Nidre.

Monday, September 21

Yom Kippur – Judaism
The holiest day of the Jewish year. To receive atonement, adherents observe a 25-hour fast and devote the day to prayer, confession, and repentance; work is prohibited. The observance begins at sundown on September 20.

Nativity of the Theotokos – Christianity [Orthodox churches using the Old Calendar]
Old Calendar Orthodox communities celebrate the birth of Mary on this date.

Ohigan begins – Buddhism [Ends September 25]
A celebration of the equinox that is of particular importance to Japanese, Korean, and Tibetan Buddhists. During this festival, the six Paramitas [virtues] are emphasized: generosity, morality, wisdom, honesty, endeavor, and patience.

Tuesday, September 22

Autumn Feast – Native American spirituality
A day to honor the harvest end and the coming and going of the seasons, including prayers, songs, and the telling of tribal stories. Observances vary widely by nation and are often held privately.

Mabon [Harvest Home] – Wicca
Marking the second or continuing harvest, this festival celebrates life's encapsulation as a seed to survive the cold winter, as well as the Harvest of the Vine, which symbolizes the divine power to transform the nectar of youth into the wine of elders' wisdom and spiritual maturity. The autumn equinox occurs at 5:05 p.m. Pacific time.

Parivartini or Parsva Ekadashi – Hinduism
Marks Vishnu turning in his cosmic sleep at the midpoint of the four-month Chaturmasya period, observed with fasting and prayer.

Joti Jot of Sri Guru Nanak Sahib Ji – Sikhism
A fixed Nanakshahi date commemorating the passing of the first Sikh Guru.

Wednesday, September 23

Shūbun no Hi (Autumnal Equinox Day) – Buddhism and Shinto
The middle day of the autumn Ohigan period and a national holiday in Japan, observed with visits to family graves and remembrance of ancestors.

Conception of St. John the Baptist – Christianity [Orthodox churches]
Commemorates the announcement to Zechariah of the conception of John the Baptist.

St. Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) – Christianity [Catholic churches]
Honors the Capuchin priest, confessor, and stigmatist who died on September 23, 1968.

Thursday, September 24

Final day of Das Laxanä Parva – Jainism
The tenth and closing day of the Digambara festival, dedicated to Uttam Brahmacharya, the virtue of celibacy and self-restraint.

Friday, September 25

Anant Chaturdashi and Ganesha Visarjan – Hinduism
The final day of Ganesh Utsav, when devotees worship Vishnu in his eternal Ananta form, tie the Anant Sutra, and ceremonially immerse Ganesha images in water.

Kshamavani – Jainism
The day of universal forgiveness following Das Laxanä Parva, when Digambara Jains ask pardon of all beings for any harm caused, knowingly or unknowingly.

Zhōngqiū Jié [Mid-Autumn Festival] – Taoism and Chinese traditional religion
A full-moon festival of reunion and thanksgiving, celebrated with lanterns, mooncakes, and offerings, and observed in many East Asian Buddhist communities as the Autumn Moon Festival.

Erev Sukkot – Judaism
Sukkot begins at sundown.

Saturday, September 26

Sukkot – Judaism [Ends October 2]
Sukkot is a weeklong Jewish holiday that commemorates the sheltering of the Israelites in the wilderness and celebrates the autumn harvest. Adherents eat and gather in a sukkah, a temporary booth, and wave the four species.

Pitru Paksha (Nayrouz) — Hinduism [Ends October 10]
The beginning of a two-week period during which Hindu adherents perform shraddha rites to gratify the spirits of their deceased ancestors, including giving food or other donations as a form of charitable service.

Festival of Ksitigarbha (Jizō) Bodhisattva – Buddhism [Mahayana]
Celebrating Ksitigarbha (Jizō) Bodhisattva, who vowed to remain until all beings are freed from realms of suffering and who is honored as a protector of children and travelers. In Japan, the related observance of Jizō-bon is held in late August.

Feast of Saint George (Sourp Gevorg) – Christianity [Armenian Apostolic Church]
Honors St. George the martyr, one of the most widely venerated saints in the Armenian tradition.

Puranmashi; Joti Jot of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji; Jor Mela at Goindwal Sahib – Sikhism
The full-moon day, observed alongside the commemoration of the third Guru's passing and a commemorative fair at Goindwal Sahib.

Sunday, September 27

Meskel — Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity
This day recognizes the Cross as a symbol of Christ's love for humankind and God's victory over death. It also marks the finding of the Holy Cross by St. Helen after it had been stolen in the 7th century C.E. Orthodox churches begin their commemoration at sundown on the preceding day, and the eve features the great Demera bonfire.

Mashiyyat — Bahá'í
The beginning of the eleventh month of the Bahá'í year, meaning "will." The month opens at sunset on September 26.

Elevation of the Holy Cross – Christianity [Orthodox churches using the Old Calendar]
Old Calendar Orthodox communities observe the Elevation of the Cross on this date and keep it as a strict fast.

Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak (Varaka Khach) – Christianity [Armenian Apostolic Church]
Commemorates the discovery of a relic of the Cross at Mount Varak in Armenia.

Tuesday, September 29

St. Michael and All Angels – Christianity
A celebration of the archangel Michael and all angels (from the Greek angelos, "divine messenger") mentioned in the Bible.