Recognized in March

During March, BEPC recognizes the following:

March NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH Honors women as significant agents of historical change.

March 2-20 NINETEEN-DAY FAST (Bahá’í) Baha'is between 15 and 70 years of age do not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset and set aside time for prayer and meditation.

March 6 MAGHA PUJA (Buddhist) Also known as Sangha Day, it commemorates the spontaneous assembly of 1,250 disciples, completely enlightened monks, in the historical Buddha's presence.

March 6-7 PURIM (Jewish) The “Feast of Lots” marks the saving of the Jewish people of ancient Persia from extermination.

March 8 HOLA MOHALLA (Sikh) An annual event which is a martial arts parade historically coinciding with Holi, the Hindu festival of colors. Celebrations related to Holla Mohalla may be held in various locations over several weekends preceding the actual date of the holiday.

March 17 ST. PATRICK'S DAY (Christian) Feast day of the patron saint of Ireland. In the U.S., a secular version is celebrated by people of all faiths through appreciation of all things Irish.

March 20 VERNAL EQUINOX  Marks the first day of the season of spring. The sun shines nearly equally on both hemispheres when it’s spring in the Northern Hemisphere and simultaneously fall in the Southern Hemisphere.

March 21 HOLI (Hindu) A spring festival in India and Nepal dedicated to the god of pleasure, also known as the festival of colors or the festival of sharing love.

March 21 INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION Call to action to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination worldwide.

March 21 NOWRÚZ (Also known as NAW-RÚZ) (Zoroastrian, Bahá’í) Celebrates the first day of Spring and the Iranian New Year, which occurs on the vernal equinox, on or near March 21. Also celebrated as New Year’s Day in Baha’i tradition. (This date may vary based on region or sect.)

March 23-April 20 RAMADAN (Islamic) Observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad.

March 26 KHORDAD SAL (Zoroastrian) The Zoroastrian celebration of the birth of Zoroaster, the founder of the Zoroastrianism religion. The holiday is specifically celebrated in India and Iran, immediately following the Persian new year, Nowrúz.

March 30 RAMA NAVAMI (Hindu) Celebrates the birthday of Rama, king of ancient India, hero of the epic Ramayana, and seventh incarnation of Vishnu.

March 31 CESAR CHAVEZ DAY Honors Mexican American farm worker, labor leader and activist Cesar Chavez (1927–1993) who was a nationally respected voice for social justice.