Bahá’ís celebrate the birth of the B’ab (October 20). They believe in the early 1800s the B’ab was a messenger of God who prepared the way for the founder of their faith, Bahá’u’lláh.

Hindus continue celebrating their nine-night festival of Navratri (October 13-22), which honors the goddess Durga and her many manifestations.

And Shiite Muslims observe Ashura (October 23), which recalls the martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Hussein. Many commemorate the day with public expressions of mourning and grief, including, for some, self-flagellation.