General Is the Right Way to Believe

SAFETY PROCEDURES FOR LIGHTING RELIGIOUS CANDLES IN THE RESIDENCE HALLS

Housing Services

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Directions: Please complete this form, and return it to the Residence Director of your cluster. You will be notified, in writing, of the decision to grant the request.

Candle Policy: Candles are not permitted in the residence halls. Candles may be used for religious purposes only in designated lounges of residence halls. If you plan to light religious candles, you must:

1. Complete this agreement, and obtain written permission from your RD or ARD.

Use candlesticks that do not exceed four (4) inches in height.
Place the religious candlesticks on a table or desk completely cleared of other material, away from shelves and open windows.
Position candlesticks in a pan containing one-half inch of water. The pan must be large enough to catch the candles if they fall.
Light the religious candles only during the times noted on the signed agreement.
Remain in the designated lounge as long as the candle is burning.

Person Responsible:______

Phone #:______ID #:______Room #:______

Date of planned candle use:______

Time of planned candle use:______TO ______

Location of planned candle use:______

Intended Audience:______# of participants:______

Reason for use of candles:______

______

I agree to abide by the candle policy as outlined above and in the Residence Hall Manual.

Signature:______Date:______

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For Office Use Only:

APPROVED DENIED A/RD Signature:______

Reason/comment:

BUDDHIST HOLIDAYS:

Theravada Sect

Magna Puja

One of the holiest Buddhist holidays. It marks the occasion when 1,250 of Buddha’s disciplines gathered spontaneously to hear Him speak

Vesakha Puja

The most sacred of all Buddhist days, it celebrates the birth, death and enlightenment of the Buddha.

Kathina Day

End of 3-month retreat by monks.

Pavarana

Celebrates the Buddha’s return to earth after spending one Lent season preaching in heaven.

Mahayana Sect

Nirvana Day

Observes the passing of Sakyamuni into Nirvana. He obtained enlightenment and became a Buddha.

Buddha Day

This service commemorates the birth of Guatama in Lumbini Garden. Amida, the Buddha of Infinite Wisdom and Compassion manifested himself among men in the person Guatama.

Bodhi Day

Celebrates the enlightenment of Buddha.

CHRISTIAN HOLIDAYS:

Feast of the Epiphany

The revealing of Jesus as the Christ to the Gentiles in the persons of the Magi at Bethlehem.

Shrove Tuesday

The Tuesday immediately before Ash Wednesday, it marks the end of the carnival season.

Ash Wednesday

The first day of Lent, a forty-day season of spiritual preparation for Easter.

Palm Sunday

The Sunday before Easter which commemorates the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

Holy Thursday

Also known as Maundy Thursday, it is the Thursday of Holy Week.

Good Friday

Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus.

Easter Sunday

Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus.

Ascension Day

The fortieth day after Easter. It commemorates the ascension of Jesus into Heaven.

Pentecost Whitsuntide

Commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, fifty days after Easter. Marks the beginning of the Christian Church.

Feast of the Assumption

Commemorates the taking of the Virgin Mary into heaven.

All Saints’ Day

Commemorates all of the Saints.

First Sunday in Advent

Begins four weeks of spiritual preparation in observance of the birth of Jesus.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Observance commemorating the doctrine that Mary, from the moment of conception, was free from the stain of original sin.

Christmas Day

Commemorates the birth of Jesus.

EASTERN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN HOLIDAYS

Christmas

Commemorates the birth of Jesus.

First Day of Lent

Begins a period of fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter.

Easter Sunday

Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus.

HINDU HOLIDAYS

Pongal Sandrandi

A three-day harvest festival.

Vasenta Pachemi

Celebrated in honor of Saraswati, the charming and sophisticated goddess of scholars.

Shivarati

A solemn festival devoted to the worship of Shiva, the most powerful of deities of the Hindu pantheon.

Holi

Celebrates the advent of Spring.

Ganguar

Celebrated in honor of Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva.

Ram Navami

Birthday of God Rama.

Hauman Jayanti

Birthday of Monkey God Hunumanji

Meennakshi Kalyaham

The annual commemoration of the marriage of Meerakshi to Lord Shiva.

Teej

Celebrates the arrival of the monsoon. Parvati is the presiding deity.

Naag Panchami

Dedicated to Sesha, also called Anant, the great thousand-headed serpent.

Jarmashtami

Commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna, believed to be the reincarnation of Vishnu and the author of the Bhagvadgita.

Ganesh Chaturthi

Dedicated to Ganesh, the deity with an elephant’s head.

Dura Puja

A festival celebrated with variations in different regions of India.

Diwali

Marks the end of the Hindu New Year.

Nutan Varsh

Hindu New Year

Dav Depotsavi

Special Diwali Festival.

JEWISH HOLIDAYS

Rosh Hashanah

The first of the High Holy Days which marks the beginning of a ten-day period of penitence and spiritual renewal. Marks the beginning of the Jewish calendar year.

Yom Kippur

The most holy day of the Jewish year, it is marked by fasting and prayer as Jews seek forgiveness from both God and man for personal wrongdoings.

Sukkot

Commemorates the forty-year wandering of Israelites in the desert on the way to the promised land; gives thanks for the Fall harvest.

Shemini Atzeret

A part of the Sukkot festival

Simchat Torah

Celebrates the conclusion of the public reading of the Pentateuch (the five books of the Torah) and its beginning anew, thus affirming that the study of God’s word is an unending process. Concludes the Sukkot festival.

First Day of Chanukah

The eight-day festival which celebrates the rededication of the Temple to the service of God. Commemorates the Maccabean victory over Antiochus IV, a king who sought to suppress freedom of worship.

Purim

Marks the salvation of the Jews of ancient Persia, through the intervention of Queen Esther, from Haman’s plot to exterminate them.

First Day of Passover

Celebrates ancient Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egyptian. During this eight-day festival, matzo (unleavened bread) is eaten.

Yom Hashoah

Day of remembrance for victims of the Nazi Holocaust.

Shavuot

Celebrates the covenant established at Sinai between God and Israel and the revelation of the Ten Commandments.

MUSLIM HOLIDAYS

Muslims calculate their year according to the phases to the moon. Following long-established customs, the beginning of a month is determined by witnesses observing the new moon. There is no regularity in predicting a given month in the Muslim calendar; there may be a difference of one or two days between previously predicted and actual celebrated holidays. The Islamic calendar shifts 10 days every year and so a Muslim Holy day this year will come ten days earlier next year.

Isra and Miraj

Commemorates the anniversary of the night journey of the Prophet and his ascension to Heaven.

Laylat Al-Bara’s

Night of the Repentance- Prayers for the dead.

Ramadhan

The ninth month of the Islamic Calendar and the month of fasting during which Muslims fast daily from sunrise to sunset.

Eid al-Fitr

Holiday celebrating the ending of the month of fasting Ramadhan

Hajji

First day of pilgrimage to Mecca.

Day of Arafat

The day before Eid al-Adha, when all the pilgrims gather on Mount Arafat.

Eid al-Adha

Holiday commemorating the Feast of the Sacrifice.

Id al-Maw’id al-Nabawi

Commemorates the nativity and death of the Prophet Mohammed and his fight from Mecca to Medina.