The DEIA Communications team sends out monthly emails about upcoming diversity awareness events recognized either nationally or internationally due to their cultural, historical, or religious significance. See below for several diversity dates to be aware of in the month of August.
Week and Day Observances
International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
Tuesday, August 9
On December 23, 1994, the United Nations General Assembly announced that going forward, August 9th will be recognized as “International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.” There are an estimated 476 million indigenous peoples living across 90 countries all around the world, making up less than 5% of the global population but 15% of the poorest. According to the United Nations, “Indigenous peoples are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment. They have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Despite their cultural differences, indigenous peoples from around the world share common problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct peoples.” International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples aims to raise awareness of the needs of indigenous populations, to educate others on how to help protect the rights of indigenous peoples, and to maintain their distinct cultures and way of life. This year’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is focused on the roles of indigenous women in their communities and the preservation of traditional knowledge. Learn more at the United Nations International Day of World's Indigenous Peoples page.
Obon (Buddhism)
Saturday, August 13 – Monday, August 15
Obon (お盆) is a Japanese Buddhist festival to honor and commemorate the spirits of one’s ancestors. During Obon, it is believed that ancestor spirits return to this world to visit their relatives. In traditional celebration, lanterns are hung on houses to guide the spirits, obon dances (bon odori) are performed, and graves are visited with food offerings. Obon will be observed in 2022 from Saturday, August 13 to Monday, August 15.
Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)
Thursday, August 18 – Friday, August 19
Krishna Janmashtami is a Hindu religious festival, celebrating the birthday of Lord Krishna. It is celebrated by people all around the world. The holiday sits in the Hindu calendar month of Bhadrapada (August or September), the eighth day in the dark fortnight, and lasts for two days. The celebrations begin at midnight, the time when Krishna is thought to have been born in 3228 BC in Mathura. Krishna is one of the most important and loved deities in Hinduism because he is the embodiment of divine joy and love. Krishna survived many mortal dangers throughout his life, and he is celebrated for his intellect as well as his strength and agility. He is a central character in the Hindu scriptures and epics like the Mahabharata, and the Bhagavad Gita. They portray him in various perspectives: as a god-child, a prankster, a model lover, a divine hero/teacher, and the universal supreme being. The celebrations of Janmashtami are passionate, and many people move through the two-day celebration without sleep. They sing, dance and some choose to feast on traditional festival foods while others choose to fast until the birth of Krishna Janmashtami at midnight. Special foods are prepared in celebration, and they reflect the foods that Lord Krishna was fond of.
Women’s Equality Day
Friday, August 26
In 1973, U.S. Congress designated August 26 as “Women’s Equality Day” to commemorate the day in 1920 when female citizens of the U.S. were constitutionally granted the right to vote through the certification of the 19th Amendment. This right was a long time in the making; the first women’s rights convention was held more than 70 years earlier – July 1848 - at Seneca Falls when women declared the right to broader educational and professional opportunities and the right of married women to control their wages and property. Thirty years later - in 1878 – the 19th Amendment was initially introduced but failed. After World War I, when women’s contributions were more widely acknowledged, the suffrage movement gained momentum. Today, Women’s Equality Day also highlights women’s continued fight for equal wages and rights.
Questions?
Please contact the DEIA Communications team with any questions or feedback.