Following consulation the Equality Service has drawn up a list of dates of key religious festivals - we have tried to include those faith groups with the highest representation in our student body and in the City of Leeds. Most festivals and holy days move from year to year. Some festivals are linked to the lunar cycle and may be subject to a change of date.

If you are organising a staff or student event and want to avoid a clash with a major religious festival, you can consult the calendar below, or you may find it easier to search by date using the BBC’s faith calendar which contains a more extensive list of religious festivals.

Staff may also wish to consult the University’s guidance on responding to requests for flexibility on grounds of religion and ACAS guidance on religion or belief and the workplace.

Bahá’í

• Naw Ruz (Bahá’í new year) 21 March 2013
• First day of of Ridván (Declaration of Baha’u'llah)- 21 April 2013
• Ninth day of Ridván -  29 April 2013
• Twelth day of Ridván – 2 May 2013
• Declaration of the Báb – 23 May 2013
• Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh – 29 May 2013
• Martyrdom of the Báb – 9 July 2013
• Birth of the Báb – 20 October 2013
• Birth of Bahá’u’lláh – 12 November 2013

Buddhism

The nearest Sunday to each of the main festivals is a no-work day. Differing Buddhist traditions may use alternative days from those shown here.

• Magha Puja - 25 February 2013
• Parinirvana – Nirvana day – 8 February 2013 (celebrated by some on 15 February 2013)
• Theravada New Year – 25 April 2013
• Wesak or Buddha Day - 25 May 2013
• Asala – Dharma Day - 13 July 2012; 22 July 2013

Christianity

• Good Friday - 29 March 2013
• Easter Sunday - 31 March 2013
• Christmas Day - 25 December 2012 & 2013

Hinduism

• Raksha Bandhan – 2 August 2012
• Janmashtami - 10 August 2012
• Navrati’s Last Day – 24 October 2012; 13 October 2013
• Dusshera – 24 October 2012; 14 October 2013
• Diwali – 13 November 2012; 3 November 2013
• Makar Sankranti – 14 January 2013
• Holi – 8 March 2013 

Judaism

No work is to be done on the Shabbat, which begins at dusk on Friday and ends after dark on Saturday, or on major holidays, which begin at dusk the evening before and end after dark on the day.

• Rosh Hashanah 17 & 18 September 2012; 5 & 6 September 2013
• Yom Kippur - 26 September 2012; 14 September 2013
• Sukkot (7 days; work not permitted the first 2 days) – 1- 2 October 2012; 19-20 September 2013
• Shemini Atzeret - 8 October 2012; 26 September 2013
• Simchat Torah - 9 October 2012; 27 September 2013
• Hanukkah – 8 – 16 December 2012; 27 Nov – 5 Dec 2013
• Passover – 8 days (first 2 & last 2 days are non-work days) 26 April 2013 (1st day) 2nd May 2013 (last day)

Islam

• Month of Ramadan begins - 20 July 2012; 9 July 2013
• Eid-Ul-Fitr - 19 August 2012; 8 August 2013
• Eid-Ul-Adha - 26 October 2012; 15 October 2013
• Eid Al-Ghadeer – 3 November 2012
• Al Hijira – Islamic New Year – 15 November 2012; 4 November 2013

Sikhism

• Bandi Chhorh Divas & Diwali - 13 November 2012; 3 November 2013 
• Birthday of Guru Nanak (celebrated by some on 14 April) - 28 November 2012; 17 November 2013
• Vaisakhi (the founding of the Khalsa & Sikh New Year) – 13 April 2013