UNCLASSIFIED
RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL DATES FOR 2013This instruction applies to: / Reference:
Prisons – Prison Service Instruction (PSI) / PSI 35/2012
Issue Date / Effective Date
Implementation Date / Expiry Date
16 November 2012 / 1 January 2013 / 1 January 2014
Issued on the authority of / NOMS Agency Board
For action by (Who is this Instruction for) / All staff responsible for the development and publication of policy and instructions
NOMS HQ
All prisons
High Security Prisons only
Contracted Prisons*
Probation Trusts
Governors
Heads of Groups
Contract Managers in Probation Trusts
Probation Trust Chief Executives
* If this box is marked, then in this document the term Governor also applies to Directors of Contracted Prisons
Instruction type / Delete as appropriate - service specification support
For information / All prison staff, IMB, Faith Advisers
Provide a summary of the policy aim and the reason for its development / This Instruction is issued annually to notify prisons of the dates of religious festivals for the coming year - 2013
Contact / Kishwar Ahmed
Chaplaincy Headquarters
0300 047 5178
Associated documents / Faith and Pastoral Care for Prisoners PSI 51/2011
Catering Operating Manual at Annex B of PSI 44/2010.
Replaces the following documents which are hereby cancelled : PSI 66/2011 (not until January 2013)
Audit/monitoring:
Deputy Directors of Custody, Commissioners and Controllers will monitor compliance with the mandatory actions set out in this Instruction. (Self Audit)
Introduces amendments to the following documents: None
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED Page 15
CONTENTS
Section / Subject / Applies toExecutive Summary / General Information/food at festivals / All prison staff
Annex A / Bahá’í Religious Festival Dates / Bahá’í prisoners
Annex B / Buddhist Religious Festival Dates / Buddhist prisoners
Annex C / Christian Religious Festival Dates / Christian prisoners
Annex D / Hindu Religious Festival Dates / Hindu prisoners
Annex E / Jain Religious Festival Dates / Jain prisoners
Annex F / Jewish Religious Festival Dates / Jewish prisoners
Annex G / Muslim Religious Festival Dates / Muslim prisoners
Annex H / Pagan Religious Festival Dates / Pagan prisoners
Annex I / Rastafarian Religious Festival Dates / Rastafarian prisoners
Annex J / Sikh Religious Festival Dates / Sikh prisoners
Annex K / Zoroastrian Festival Dates / Zoroastrian prisoners
Annex L / Chronological summary of all dates / All prison staff
1. Executive summary
The Prison Service is committed to ensuring that prisoners from all religious faiths are given the opportunity and facilities to practise their religion. This instruction provides information to ensure staff are aware of the key religious dates, and their requirements, for the main faiths. Some of these festivals require prisoners to be excused from work or to fast. Details are provided in the attached annexes.
Background
1.1 This Instruction sets out the dates in 2013 of the main religious festivals for the Bahá’í, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Pagan and Zoroastrian faiths. In addition this year, we have included the dates for the Rastafarian festivals.
It also sets out the principles for providing food at religious festivals.
Desired outcomes
1.2 Faith and Pastoral Care for Prisoners
(Output 6: Recognised religious feasts, fasts and festivals are observed)
This instruction aims to ensure that prisons have the necessary information to enable religious festivals to be marked in an appropriate and equitable way.
Application
1.3 Arrangements for provision for food for religious festivals for 2013 should be discussed at the earliest opportunity by the Co-ordinating Chaplain(s), together with members of the Chaplaincy team, and other key stakeholders such as the Catering Manager and Security Department. Relevant faith chaplains can provide details of appropriate food; this should be prepared in-house except in the circumstances described in paragraphs 3.43 – 3.48 of the Catering Manual (see 1.4 below).
As in 2012, a year planner setting out the main festivals listed in the PSI is being produced by Chaplaincy HQ. Copies will be sent to the Chaplaincy team at each prison.
If establishments require advice or information in relation to any faith tradition not mentioned in this instruction, please contact Chaplaincy HQ.
Mandatory actions
1.4 Governing Governors and Directors of Contracted prisons must ensure that relevant staff, including Chaplains of all faith traditions, Race Equality Officers / Diversity Officers and Catering Managers, are aware of this Instruction.
Food for Religious Festivals
Information on this is set out in the Catering Manual at Annex B of PSI 44/2010, and the relevant extract is below:
“3.43 The dates of the main religious festivals are set out annually in a PSI issued by Chaplaincy HQ.
3.44 Governors and Directors of contracted prisons, together with Co-ordinating Chaplains, must ensure equitable provision, as far as practicable, across the faiths in terms of food for religious festivals. Food for religious festivals should always be provided in consultation with the relevant Faith Chaplain and should be provided at a communal gathering.
3.45 Where food is provided at public expense for religious festivals, this must be prepared in the prison kitchens. It should only be necessary to purchase food from outside sources in the event of an operating failure of kitchen equipment or for Kosher prepared meals. The cost of food must be proportionate to the number of prisoners involved and consistent with the cost per prisoner incurred in other religious festivals for other faiths. If the prison believes there are other exceptional circumstances requiring the food for a religious festival to be purchased from outside the prison, this should only be done in consultation with Co-ordinating Chaplain(s), the relevant Faith Chaplain and other key stakeholders such as the Catering Manager and Security Department. Governors and Chaplains should seek further advice from the relevant Faith Adviser, Chaplaincy HQ and Regional Catering Manager if necessary. The final approval of the Regional Custodial Manager must be obtained.
3.46 Faith communities may offer to donate food for religious festivals, but this should normally be prepared in-house. Subject to the agreement of the Governor, donations of additional small items of food such as dates for Ramadan, sweets for Diwali, sweets/hot cross buns for Christmas/Easter may be allowed. Prasad (a blessed sweetmeat from the Gurdwara), which Sikh Chaplains are permitted to bring in for religious services, must also be allowed for festivals.
3.47 The Governor (food business proprietor) remains responsible for ensuring that all food served is fit for consumption and is not injurious to health. Exceptionally, therefore, if Governors wish to allow refreshments to be donated by faith groups, it is strongly advisable to limit these refreshments to items that have been purchased in sealed packaging and brought in unopened. Hot food and food requiring re-heating must not be brought in.
3.48 Governors and Chaplains should seek further advice from the relevant Faith Adviser, Chaplaincy HQ and Regional Catering Manager as necessary.”
Resource Impact
1.5 None. This Instruction is issued annually to notify prisons of dates for the year ahead
(signed)
Digby Griffith
Director of National Operational Services, NOMS
Annex A
BAHA’I FESTIVALS – 2013
BAHA’I PRISONERS SHOULD BE OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE EXCUSED FROM WORK ON A MAXIMUM OF FOUR OF THE DATES BELOW
21 March / Naw-Rúz (Bahá’í New Year)21 April / First Day of Ridván
29 April / Ninth Day of Ridván
2 May / Twelfth Day of Ridván
23 May / Declaration of the Báb
29 May / Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh
9 July / Martyrdom of the Báb
20 October / Birthday of the Báb
12 November / Birthday of Bahá’u’lláh
Further information may be obtained from:
Pete Hulme
Address: Pastoral Care Sub-Committee
National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the UK
27 Rutland Gate
London SW7 1PD
Tel: 0207 584 2566
E-Mail:
Annex B
BUDDHIST FESTIVALS - 2013
DATES ON WHICH BUDDHIST PRISONERS MUST BE EXCUSED FROM WORK
24 May / Buddha Day22 July / Dhamma Day
19 October / Sangha Day
N.B. Buddhism mostly follows a lunar calendar, therefore these dates will be different every year.
Buddhist prisoners must be allowed to be together for as much of the day as possible, with vegetarian food provided for a shared meal, and if the Buddhist Chaplain is not available a knowledgeable Buddhist prisoner may lead the observance. See also paragraphs 4.22 - 4.23 of part 1 of PSI 51/2011, which provides instructions and guidance on corporate worship where the relevant faith chaplain is not available.
Buddhism encompasses a range of traditions and a spread of social and cultural phenomena that cluster around and generally derive from and promote Buddhist teaching and training. Therefore, at festival times Buddhists may celebrate in a variety of ways but it is common that whatever happens will be guided by the Buddhist principles of Giving, Virtue and Cultivation. Giving and sharing usually involves food, symbolic offerings on the Shrine as well as eating together. Virtue will mean more careful observance of moral precepts with kind, tolerant and virtuous conduct. Cultivation should include meditation, listening to a sermon or teachings, and perhaps discussing Buddhist principles. Buddhist festivals should be expressive of loving-kindness and support in the Buddhist life and training, therefore, as well as ceremonies and formal observances there should be a relaxed and social dimension to the day.
Further Information
Religious Consultative Service for Buddhist matters:
Venerable Ajahn Khemadhammo (Chao Khun Bhavanaviteht), OBE
The Buddhist Adviser to the Prison Service.
Angulimala, the Buddhist Prison Chaplaincy Organisation,
The Forest Hermitage
Lower Fulbrook
Warwickshire
CV35 8AS
Tel: 01926 624385 Mobile: 07941 013319
Email: or
Annex C
CHRISTIAN FESTIVALS – 2013
DATES ON WHICH CHRISTIAN PRISONERS MUST BE EXCUSED FROM WORK
29 March
/ Good Friday31 March
/ Easter Day25 December / Christmas Day
For some Orthodox prisoners only:
7 January / Christmas Day18 March / First Day of Lent
3 May / Holy Friday
5 May / Easter Day/Pascha
OTHER CHRISTIAN FESTIVAL DATES (not excused from work)
Other Christian dates when Services may be provided / In Addition Roman Catholic Holy Days of Obligation6 January / Epiphany / 6 January
2 February / Candlemas
13 February / Ash Wednesday
28 March / Maundy Thursday
30 March / Holy Saturday
13 April / Good Friday – Orthodox prisoners
9 May / Ascension Day / 12 May
19 May / Pentecost
24 May / Ascension Day – Orthodox prisoners
30 May / Corpus Christi / 2 June
3 June / Pentecost – Orthodox prisoners
29 June / SS Peter and Paul / 30 June
15 August / Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary / 15 August
1 November / All Saints / 1 November
2 November / All Souls
Holy Days of Obligation: are days on which Roman Catholics have to attend Mass; prisoners do not have to be released from attending work, other than for the time of the Mass. Other Christian prisoners may also attend chapel for services on these days.
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
On 2 days each year, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, many Christians will wish to fast and/or abstain from eating meat (a vegetarian or fish dish would be required). For Roman Catholics, it is a requirement on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, to fast and abstain from eating meat (a vegetarian or fish dish is required)
On all Fridays throughout the year Roman Catholics, and some other Christian denominations, are encouraged to abstain from meat, so a vegetarian or fish dish is needed.
Orthodox Christians follow a vegan diet on all Wednesdays and Fridays and for the whole of Lent and Advent and before the Feast of the Dormition (August 15th).
Further information
For further information on Christian festival dates, please contact
· Reverend Canon Mike Kavanagh, Anglican Advisor 0300 047 5182, e mail:
· Monsignor Malachy Keegan, Catholic Bishops’ Prisons Adviser 0207 901 4857, e mail:
· Reverend Bob Wilson, Free Church Adviser, 0207 529 8138, e mail:
Reverend Philip Hall – Orthodox traditions, e mail: or
Annex D
HINDU FESTIVALS – 2013
DATES ON WHICH HINDU PRISONERS MUST BE EXCUSED FROM WORK
9 March / Maha Shivaratri(day of fasting)
20 August / Rakhee/
Raksha Bandhan
27 August / Shri Krishna Janmashtami
8 September / Shri Ganesha Pooja
13 October / Vijayadashami – Navaratri ends
2 November / Diwali
OTHER HINDU FESTIVAL DATES (not excused from work)
14 January
/ Makara Sankramana26 March / Holi
11 April / Yugadi/Gudi Parva
14 April / Baisakhi
(celebrated in the Punjabi community)
19 April / Shri Ram Navami
22 July / Guru Poornima
18 September / Shraddha Paksha begins
5 October / Navaratri begins
12 October / Durgashtami
Further information
For further information on Hindu festival dates please contact:
Bhadresh Trivedi (Hindu Chaplain/ London prisons)
E-mail:
Annex E
JAIN FESTIVALS – 2013
DATES ON WHICH JAIN PRISONERS MUST BE EXCUSED FROM WORK
23 April / Mahavir Janma Kalyanak(The Lord Mahavira’s Birthday)
9 September / Samvatsary
(This is the last day of Paryushan – see below) A day of fasting.
3 November / Lord Mahavir's Nirvan (Diwali)
(A celebration of the attainment of moksha (enlightenment) by Mahavira. This is the last day of the year)
4 November / New Year
(This day is celebrated by special prayers)
OTHER JAIN FESTIVAL DATES (not excused from work)
2 – 9 September / Paryushan (A period of eight days of religious austerity/fasting and forgiveness)The degree of fasting and period of fasting depends on the individual, but is considered obligatory to fast on the last day of Paryushana. The fast may vary from giving up one or two specific foods or having restricted number of meals to a complete fast. Drinking water is to be boiled and then cooled. Jain inmates can observe Paryushana within the establishment routine.
Further guidance may be obtained from:
Manhar Mehta
Chairman NCVA
Address: The National Council of Vanik Associations (UK) [NCVA]
37 Howberry Road,
Edgware
Middlesex HA8 6SS
Tel: Phone 020 8952 1165
E-mail:
Website: www.ncva.co.uk
Annex F
JEWISH FESTIVALS - 2013
Sabbath
1. The Jewish Sabbath extends from sunset on Friday to nightfall (i.e. one hour after sunset) on Saturday. Jewish prisoners should not be required to work from half an hour before sunset on Fridays.