To the UConn Community:
The Office for Diversity and Inclusion and the Provost’s Office would like to remind you of several celebrations, commemorations, and moments of raising awareness for members of our community during the month of August:
Heritage Month Celebrations:
Purple Heart Month: Observed each August, Purple Heart Month honors U.S. military service members who have been wounded or killed in action since April 5, 1917. Purple Heart Day, recognized annually on August 7, marks the date in 1782 when General George Washington established the original Badge of Military Merit, now known as the Purple Heart, to recognize soldiers wounded in combat. This month serves as a time to reflect on the sacrifices and courage of those who have served.
The Office of Veterans Affairs and Military Programs (VAMP) provides student support services specifically for veterans, active service members, and their families attending UConn. Their services include certifying VA educational benefits, assisting students in their transition to life at UConn, and providing supplemental programs and activities to student veterans. VAMP works closely with the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD), which has a wealth of resources for veterans regardless of ability status. VAMP also works closely with state-based Veterans Centers that provide fully confidential mental and behavioral health assistance.
Cultural and Federal Holidays:
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (August 9): The United Nations commemorates the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples annually on August 9 to raise awareness about their identities, ways of life, territories, and natural resources, all of which have been violated throughout history. People from around the world are encouraged to spread the UN’s message on the protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples. This year’s theme is focused on “Indigenous Peoples and AI: Defending Rights, Shaping Futures.” Indigenous youth are actively exercising their right to self-determination by being change agents in key areas like climate action and the green transition, mobilizing for justice, and intergenerational connections. To learn about the advocacy of Native and Indigenous young people at UConn, visit the Native American Cultural Programs website.
National Senior Citizens Day (August 21): Created by Presidential Proclamation in 1988, National Senior Citizens Day honors and shows appreciation to the elders in our communities. It also raises awareness of the need to continue supporting our elders as they face new struggles from aging; senior citizens often face increased health issues and may be economically vulnerable. The best ways to celebrate this day are to visit the elders in your family and community or to volunteer at senior care centers, meal delivery services, and other senior-based programs. The University of Connecticut supports senior citizens through free educational initiatives, including Senior Citizen Audits for learners over 62, UConn Extension’s Center for Learning in Retirement (CLIR) for retirees and other adults from all walks of life, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLII) where learners over 50 can expand their minds and connect with other learners.
National Women’s Equality Day (August 26): Women’s Equality Day commemorates the certification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920, guaranteeing that every American can vote, regardless of gender. Made into a national holiday in 1971, this day celebrates activists’ achievements in promoting equity and equality for women. It also serves as a reminder of the ongoing need to advocate for gender equity and equality, as well as to dedicate resources to promoting and empowering women, including efforts to combat sexual and gender-based violence. At UConn, these imperatives are carried out by the Women’s Center, the Rainbow Center, the Title IX Office, the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program, the Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills, and the UConn Health Women’s Center, among other unit- and department-level resources.
Religious Holidays:
Lughnasadh (August 1): Lughnasadh is a Gaelic harvest festival celebrated on August 1. It is more than just a celebration of the start of the harvest season; it is a profound acknowledgment of the cycle of growth and sacrifice. Situated between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox, Lughnasadh represents the first fruits of labor—honoring both nature’s bounty and the effort required to sustain it.
Traditionally observed with feasting, games, music, and gatherings, Lughnasadh also paid tribute to the Celtic god Lugh and celebrated community, craftsmanship, and remembrance. Today, it offers an opportunity to reconnect with ancestral traditions and the earth’s enduring rhythms through personal reflection, seasonal rituals, and gratitude for abundance.
The Ninth of Av, Tisha B’Av (August 2 – August 3): This is a day of mourning in Judaism, commemorating the destruction of the First Temple (by the Babylonians in 586 BCE) and the Second Temple (by the Romans in 70 CE) in Jerusalem. Over the last 100 years, Tisha B’Av has also become a day of mourning for the lives lost in the massacres of Jewish communities in the Middle East and North Africa, the pogroms of Eastern Europe, and the Holocaust. The traditional practices observed on Tisha B’av make space for mourning, reflection, and a communal expression of grief.
Raksha Bandhan (August 9): Raksha Bandhan, often called Rakhi, is a significant Hindu festival celebrated in August. It symbolizes the “bond of protection” where sisters tie a sacred thread (rakhi) on their brothers’ wrists. This act signifies their love and prayers for their brothers’ well-being, and in return, brothers promise lifelong protection.
Feast of the Assumption / Dormition of the Mother of God (August 15): This day is widely celebrated among Roman Catholics, Eastern Catholics, and Eastern Orthodox Christians as the day Jesus’s mother, Mary, ascended to heaven in both body and soul. This is a holy day of obligation for Catholics, meaning the faithful are obligated to attend mass. Celebrations might also include festivals, processions, or praying the rosary, especially the Glorious Mysteries.
Krishna Janmashtami (August 16): This Hindu festival celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, one of the most popular Hindu deities. Hindus celebrate Janmashtami by fasting, singing devotional songs, praying together, preparing special foods, holding night vigils, and visiting temples. Major Krishna temples organize a recitation of “Bhagavata Purana” and “Bhagavad Gita” or drama events “Rasa Lila” and “Krishna Lila.”
Paryushan (August 20 – 27): This Jain observance, also known as Paryushana Parva, is a time of intensive study, reflection, and purification. This major festival lasts eight to ten days and emphasizes introspection, meditation, and austerity to reduce involvement with worldly affairs. The festival culminates in Samvatsari, a day of forgiveness where Jains seek pardon for any offenses committed during the year.
We welcome the celebration of each of these holidays on our campuses and encourage support for those requiring accommodations. You can find information and guidance about academic accommodations for religious observations on the Provost Office’s webpage.
To see more information about resources and events happening this month and throughout the semester, please visit our events page at www.diversity.uconn.edu/events. ODI writes these letters in collaboration with our partners across the UConn system. If we inadvertently omitted a cultural or religious holiday, please let us know by emailing us at diversity@uconn.edu.
If you would like to receive our ODI Weekly Digest, please subscribe here!
Sincerely,
Jeff and Anne
Jeffrey F. Hines, M.D.
Vice President, Office for Diversity and Inclusion, UConn and UConn Health
Anne D’Alleva, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs