Harela is a Hindu festival celebrated annually on July 16 in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand — a festival of peace, prosperity, greenery, and environmental protection. It coincides with the religious celebration of the wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Harela marks the onset of the rainy season (monsoon) and is considered favorable by farmers as it is the beginning of the sowing cycle in their fields. People in the Kumaon region associate greenery with prosperity. So, on Harela, people are encouraged to plant saplings to maintain vegetation on the earth.
H.M. The Sultan’s Birthday (in lieu)
H.M The Sultan’s Birthday is celebrated in Brunei on July 15 every year. However, the celebrations do not end in just a day. Preparations begin much earlier. The actual event goes on for at least two weeks. There’s a series of ceremonies and parties for guests to delight in. The royal palace lights up — welcoming people from all over the country to join in the celebrations. So well-known is this party that people from around the globe flock to Brunei to be a part of this celebration.
Fast of Tammuz
The Fast of Tammuz falls on July 13 this year, the 17th day of Tammuz, in the fourth month on the Hebrew calendar. It is a Jewish fast day to commemorate the breach of the walls of Jerusalem. It also marks the beginning of The Three Weeks, a period commemorating the destruction of the Holy Temple. The Fast of Tammuz traditionally commemorates five tragedies that occurred on this date, including the breaking of the two stone tablets and the burning of the Torah.