Sacred Days, Shared Humanity

Prof Suresh Chander
suresh.chander@gmail.com
The killings in Manchester somedays ago, carried out on Yom Kippur, shocked not only the Jewish community but all who value peace and faith. Yom Kippur is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, a day not of anger or revenge but of deep repentance, fasting, and prayer. Its very purpose is to cleanse, to forgive, and to renew. That such a day should be stained by violence is a tragic contradiction.
And yet, if we pause, we find that the idea of a sacred cycle culminating in a day of forgiveness or renewal is not unique to Judaism. It runs like a quiet thread through many faiths, pointing to a profound unity beneath different practices.
In Judaism, Yom Kippur comes at the end of the Ten Days of Awe, which begin with Rosh Hashanah, the New Year. During these days, believers examine their actions, make amends, and prepare to stand spiritually renewed before God. The tenth day, Yom Kippur, is set apart as the Day of Atonement.
In Hinduism, a similar pattern appears. The nine days of Navratri are dedicated to worship of the Goddess in her various forms – a celebration of divine strength and protection.
The tenth day, known as Dussehra or Vijayadashmi, marks the victory of good over evil – Rama’s triumph over Ravana, or Durga’s triumph over Mahishasura. After nine days of devotion, the tenth day brings moral clarity: truth prevails.
Remarkably, this year Yom Kippur and Dussehra fall on the same day this year, bringing two great religious traditions together in a shared rhythm of sacred time. Both speak of renewal: one through forgiveness and repentance, the other through the triumph of righteousness.
Jainism too has its parallel. The festival of Paryushan culminates in K?am?va?? Divas, the Day of Forgiveness. On this day, Jains seek and grant forgiveness, often greeting each other with the words “Micch?mi Dukka?a?” – “May my misdeeds be forgiven.” It is an act of humility and reconciliation that restores human bonds.
Even in Islam, the tenth day of Muharram – ‘Ashura’ – carries deep meaning. For many it commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Husain at Karbala, a reminder of sacrifice and steadfastness in the face of tyranny. For others, it recalls the Prophet Moses fasting in gratitude after the deliverance of the Israelites. Here again, a tenth day embodies memory, repentance, and renewal.
These parallels are striking. Different theologies, rituals, and histories converge on a shared human need: to set aside a period of reflection and to mark its completion with a day of forgiveness, victory, or sacrifice. Judaism’s Yom Kippur, Hinduism’s Dussehra, Jainism’s Day of Forgiveness, and Islam’s Ashura – all in their own ways affirm that the human spirit requires renewal, that truth must prevail, and that reconciliation is more powerful than revenge.
The violence in Manchester should not blind us to this unity. Instead, it should remind us of the sacred purpose of these days. They are not meant for bloodshed but for cleansing the heart, forgiving others, and triumphing over evil. The real honour to Yom Kippur, to Dussehra, and to their echoes in other traditions, lies in choosing forgiveness over hate and renewal over destruction.
Let us find love in religions and not hatred.against each other.
(The author is former Head of Computer Engineering Department in G B Pant University of Agriculture & Technology)

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