Ninth Day of Ridván Festival: April 29

Ninth Day of Ridván Festival is a religious observance for the followers of Bahá’í.

The Ninth Day of Ridván Festival is celebrated on April 29, and the festival continues until May 2. The first day, the ninth day, and the last day are all non-working days according to the Bahá’í faith. The ninth day celebrates the arrival of the family of Bahá’u'lláh to the Garden of Ridván.

History of the Ninth Day of Ridván Festival

Ridván means “paradise”, and the festival got its name from the Garden of Ridván, over the Tigris River outside Baghdad. This is where Bahá’u'lláh, founder of the Bahá’Ă­ faith, remained for 12 days from April 21 to May 2, 1863 after he was forced to leave Baghdad by the Ottoman Empire.

During these 12 days, Bahá’u'lláh received many visitors who came to help him and his family prepare for the journey to Constantinople. In the presence of his sons, Bahá’u'lláh announced his messianic mission, telling all that he was “he whom God shall make manifest”, the messianic figure repeatedly mentioned by the Báb. Before him many others had claimed to be the messiahs of the Bahá’Ă­ faith, but only Bahá’u'lláh’s claim was successful, and his followers became known as the Bahá’Ă­s.

The family of Bahá’u'lláh was not able to join him until the ninth day because the Tigris River had risen due to the rains, and travel to the Garden of Ridván was difficult. On the 12th day, they all left Ridván and started their journey to Constantinople. The 12 days of Bahá’u'lláh in the Garden of Ridván are now celebrated as the Ridván Festival—also known as The Most Great Festival and King of Festivals—and it is the most holy festival of the Bahá’Ă­ faith.

Ninth Day of Ridván Festival Traditions, Customs and Activities

The Ninth Day of Ridván celebrates the arrival of Bahá’u'lláh’s family to the Garden of Ridván. Bahá’u'lláh declared the Festival of Ridván as the most holy for Bahá’is, and he gave specific instructions that the first, ninth, and twelfth days be holy days for the entire Baha’i community. These three days are non-working days, and classes are suspended as the Baha’i community gathers to celebrate their faith.

The First Day of Ridván Festival is also the administrative day when the elections of local and national Spiritual Assemblies occur as part of the festivities. There are no prescribed ways to celebrate the first day of Ridván. Buildings may be decorated with white and bright colors, representing an outdoor canopy like the one that Bahá’u'lláh stayed in. During the celebrations there are readings that recount the arrival of Bahá’u'lláh’s family to the Garden of Ridván.

Other interesting posts:

• The First Day of Ridván Festival Celebrated by Followers of Bahá’í
• Ascension of Baha’u'llah Commemorated by Followers of Bahá’í
• The Nineteen Day Fast Observed by the Followers of Bahá’í

First Day of Ridván Festival: April 21

First Day of Ridván Festival is a religious observance for the followers of Bahá’í.

The First Day of Ridván Festival is celebrated on April 21, and the festival continues until May 2. The first day, the ninth day, and the last day are all non-working days according to the Bahá’í faith.

History of the First Day of Ridván Festival

Ridván means “paradise”, and the festival got its name from the Garden of Ridván, over the Tigris River outside Baghdad. This is where Bahá’u'lláh, founder of the Bahá’Ă­ faith, remained for 12 days from April 21 to May 2, 1863 after he was forced to leave Baghdad by the Ottoman Empire.

During these 12 days, Bahá’u'lláh received many visitors who came to help him and his family prepare for the journey to Constantinople. In the presence of his sons, Bahá’u'lláh announced his messianic mission, telling all that he was “he whom God shall make manifest”, the messianic figure repeatedly mentioned by the Báb. Before him many others had claimed to be the messiahs of the Bahá’Ă­ faith, but only Bahá’u'lláh’s claim was successful, and his followers became known as the Bahá’Ă­s.

The family of Bahá’u'lláh was not able to join him until the ninth day because the Tigris River had risen due to the rains, and travel to the Garden of Ridván was difficult. On the 12th day, they all left Ridván and started their journey to Constantinople. The 12 days of Bahá’u'lláh in the Garden of Ridván are now celebrated as the Ridván Festival—also known as The Most Great Festival and King of Festivals—and it is the most holy festival of the Bahá’Ă­ faith.

First Day of Ridván Festival Traditions, Customs and Activities

The First Day of Ridván celebrates the arrival of Bahá’u'lláh to the Garden of Ridván. Bahá’u'lláh declared the Festival of Ridván as the most holy for Bahá’is, and he gave specific instructions that the first, ninth, and twelfth days be holy days for the entire Baha’i community. These three days are non-working days, and classes are suspended as the Baha’i community gathers to celebrate their faith.

The First Day of Ridván Festival is also the administrative day when the elections of local and national Spiritual Assemblies occur as part of the festivities. There are no prescribed ways to celebrate the first day of Ridván. Buildings may be decorated with white and bright colors, representing an outdoor canopy like the one that Bahá’u'lláh stayed in. During the celebrations there are readings that recount the stay of Bahá’u'lláh in the Garden of Ridván.

Other interesting posts:

• Ascension of Baha’u'llah Commemorated by Followers of Bahá’í
• The Nineteen Day Fast Observed by the Followers of Bahá’í
• Bahá’i Celebrates the Birth of the Baha’u'llah

Nineteen Day Fast: March 2

Nineteen Day Fast is a religious observance for the followers of Bahá’í.

The annual Nineteen Day Fast is observed by followers of Baha’i all over the world from March 2 to March 20. It is a time for spiritual purification, reflection on spiritual progress and detachment from material desires. Besides obligatory prayer, the Nineteen Day Fast is one of the greatest Baha’i obligations.

History of Nineteen Day Fast

The Nineteen Day Fast was instituted by the Báb and accepted by Bahá’u'lláh in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, his book of laws. The Báb instituted the Badí’ calendar in the Persian Bayán, a collection of his principal scriptural writings. The calendar has 19 months with 19 days each, plus intercalary days that bring the total to 365 days in a year.

In the same book he stated that the last month, the month of Ala, would be a month of fasting, complete abstinence from all except from the love of the Manifestation of God. At the time, the Báb also wrote that the Nineteen Day Fast would still have to be approved by Him Whom God Shall Make Manifest, who was to be the Bahá’u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá’Ă­ Faith.

He did accept the fasting but changed many of the regulations left by the Báb. These were written in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, where he states that fasting is to be observed from sunrise to sunset during the Baha’i month of Ala, beginning March 2 with the termination of the Intercalar Days and ending March 20 with the Naw-Ruz Festival. Abstinence from food, drink, and smoking is obligatory for all but the sick or traveling faithful.

Nineteen Day Fast Traditions, Customs and Activities

All Baha’is older than 15 are obliged to observe the Nineteen Day Fast during the prescribed dates. Followers of Baha’i usually wake up before dawn to have breakfast and pray, and during the day observe the fasting regulations. At sunset, when the fasting is finished, the people get together to enjoy a full meal.

Baha’is are obliged to abstain from eating, drinking, and smoking from sunrise to sunset. In some regions where the durations of days and night vary considerably, the times of fasting are set by clock hours. Those who are younger than 15 or older than 70 or those who are ill, engaged in heavy labor, pregnant, nursing, or menstruating are exempt from fasting. Additionally, those traveling longer than 9 hours, or 2 hours by foot are exempt.

During the Nineteen Day Fast, followers join together in prayer, reading from the scriptures of the Báb and Bahá’u'lláh as a reminder of the pillars of their faith.

Other interesting posts:

• Ascension of Baha’u'llah Commemorated by Followers of Bahá’í
• Declaration of the Báb Commemorated by Followers of Bahá’í
• Bahá’i Celebrates the Birth of the Baha’u'llah

Ascension of `Abdu’l-Bahá Date: November 28

Ascension of `Abdu’l-Bahá is a religious observance for the followers of Bahá’Ă­.

On November 28, followers of the Bahá’Ă­ Faith worldwide commemorate the passing of `Abdu’l-Bahá in his house in Haifa in 1921. He was the eldest son and successor of Baha’u'llah, founder of the Bahá’Ă­ Faith. His funeral was attended by more than 10,000 mourners, representing every one of the diverse religions and ethnic communities in the Holy Land. His remains were laid to rest in a vault next to the vault of the Bab on Mount Carmel.

History of Ascension of `Abdu’l-Bahá

`Abdu’l-Bahá was born on May 23, 1844 in Tehran, Iran. His father was imprisoned when he was 8 years old, and it had a deep impact on his childhood. His family was left in poverty and persecuted in the streets. Little `Abdu’l-Bahá, after the release of his father from prison, had to follow him into exile in Baghdad. `Abdu’l-Bahá learned the teachings of his father and witnessed firsthand the persecutions of his message and the birth of the Bahá’Ă­ Faith. After his father, Bahá’u'lláh, died on May 29, 1892, the Will and Testament of his father named `Abdu’l-Bahá as Centre of the Covenant, the father being the legitimate successor and interpreter of Bahá’u'lláh’s writings. Also in the Will and Testament `Abdu’l-Bahá’s half-brother, Muhammad `AlĂ­ was placed as subordinate to the elder brother. Muhammad `AlĂ­ became jealous of his half-brother and went on with many efforts to undermine the half-brother’s authority. `Abdu’l-Bahá remained faithful to his father’s teachings, and during his life the Bahá’Ă­ Faith saw great expansion worldwide. His final years were spent in Palestine where he was officially recognized by the British Mandate of Palestine for his humanitarian efforts during World War I and awarded a knighthood. `Abdu’l-Bahá died in his home in Haifa, aged 77, in 1921.

Ascension of `Abdu’l-Bahá Traditions, Customs and Activities

The Ascension of `Abdu’l-Bahá is one of only two days that work is suspended for the Bahá’Ă­ followers. The other is the Anniversary of the Birth of `Abdu’l-Bahá. Bahá’Ă­s are advised that there must be a celebration on this day, if possible to be organized to occur at 1:00 AM, coinciding with the hour that `Abdu’l-Bahá died. Since there are no prescribed ceremonies or religious practices it is usually celebrated in a gathering with prayers, music, and devotional readings with solemnity and reverence for the memory of `Abdu’l-Bahá.

Other interesting posts:

• Ascension of Baha’u'llah Commemorated by Followers of Bahá’í
• Bahá’i Celebrates the Birth of the Baha’u'llah
• The First Day of Ridván Festival Celebrated by Followers of Bahá’í

Birth of the Baha’u'llah Date: November 12

Birth of the Baha’u'llah is a religious observance for Baha’i’s all over the world.

The Birth of Bahá’u’lláh is one of the nine holy days for Baha’i’s, and it is celebrated on November 12. It celebrates the birth of Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’i faith, born in Tehran on November 12, 1817.

History of the Birth of the Baha’u'llah

Bahá’u’lláh, which mean Glory of God, was born on November 12, 1817 in Tehran, Iran, and was given the name of Mírzá Husayn-`Alí Nuri. He is considered the founder of the Baha’í faith and claimed to be the prophetic fulfillment of Bábism as well as a messenger of God announcing the fulfillment of the promises of Islam, Christianity, and other religions. Later he would be persecuted and put in to jail.
On May 9, 1892, Bahá’u’lláh had a slight fever that worsened over the following days, and on May 29, he took his life. He is now buried in a shrine next to the Mansion of Bahjí, where he died.

Bahá’u’lláh left behind many religious works that are now the base for the Baha’I, most notably the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, his book of laws. His works also include letters describing his vision of a united world and the need for ethical action, as well as many prayers.

Birth of the Baha’u'llah Traditions, Customs and Activities

Bahá’i’s do not have guidelines for celebrations or prayers. On this day there are gatherings among Bahá’i’s communities all over the world and everyone is invited to join, regardless of their own religion or personal beliefs. In homes, public buildings, or any Baha’i center or house or worship, there are prayers, music, and dances for everyone as the day is celebrated in a spirit of unity and peace. This is a non-working day for Baha’i’s.

Other interesting posts:

• Ascension of Baha’u'llah Commemorated by Followers of Bahá’í
• The Ascension of `Abdu’l-Bahá Is Celebrated by the Bahá’í
• The First Day of Ridván Festival Celebrated by Followers of Bahá’í

Martyrdom of the Bab Date: July 9

Martyrdom of the Bab is observed by followers of the Bahai religion.

One of the two central figures in founding the Bahai religion was Siyyid `Alí Muḥammad Shírází. On July 9, 1850, Siyyid `Alí Muḥammad Shírází was executed in the town square in Tabriz, Iran.

Martyrdom of the Bab History

Bab declared that he was a messenger of God and his mission was to prepare the way of the Promised One. According to his revelations, Bab said that the Promised One would unite all religions and establish a new age of peace and prosperity. During his travels, he attracted thousands of people as followers to the Bahai religion. Many of these followers who lived in Iran were persecuted and killed. The Bab’s teachings became the foundation for the Bahai religion.

As reported to the British Secretary for Foreign Affairs, under Queen Victoria’s rule, Sir Justin Shiel wrote, “When the smoke and dust cleared away after the volley, Báb was not to be seen, and the populace proclaimed that he had ascended to the skies. The balls had broken the ropes by which he was bound but he was dragged from the recess where, after some search he was discovered and shot.”

Martyrdom of the Bab Traditions and Activities

His remains were entombed on Mount Carmel and his shrine is one of the most famous in Israel. This day is one of the nine holy days that followers observe. Bahai observers do not work on this day and they spend the day in prayer.

Ascension of Baha’u'llah: May 29

Ascension of Baha’u'llah is a religious observance for the followers of Bahá’í.

May 29 marks the death anniversary of Baha’u'llah, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith. The Ascension of Baha’u'llah is celebrated all around the world by Bahá’í communities at approximately the same time that Baha’u'llah died, eight hours after sunset on May 29, 1892.

History of Ascension of Baha’u'llah

Baha’u'llah was born in November 12, 1817 and died May 29, 1892. He was born MĂ­rzá Iusayn-`AlĂ­ Nuri and was the founder of the Bahá’í faith. His final years were lived in the Mansion of BahjĂ­ as a de facto prisoner of the Ottoman Empire.

Abdu’l-Bahá, the eldest son of Baha’u'llah, took over most of the organizational work within the Bahá’í, while Baha’u'llah was more devoted to writing and the expansion of the Bahá’í faith. During this time Baha’u'llah wrote the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, his book of laws, several letters explaining his vision of a united world, and many prayers. On May 9, 1892, he contracted a slight fever that became worse over the next days. On May 29, he took his own life.

Baha’u'llah was buried near the Mansion of BahjĂ­. His shrine is the holiest place on Earth for Bahá’ís, something like Mecca to where they all turn to pray each day. He left an impressive heritage of spiritual writings and a personal testimony of life that endured persecutions, imprisonment, and exile, still finding joy in his mission given from God.

Ascension of Baha’u'llah Traditions, Customs and Activities

On this day, many Bahá’í gather at the Mansion of BahjĂ­, in the shrine of Baha’u'llah, in celebration of his life and the teachings that he left them to learn and follow, perfecting their own spiritual lives. All around the world, The Bahá’í community comes together approximately the same time that Baha’u'llah died, eight hours after sunset. There is no formal format of celebration for this day, so the different communities organize themselves as they please.

Usually the life of Baha’u'llah is remembered through his own words and teaching. There is food and conversation, all in a very welcoming spirit to everyone as it is common of the Bahá’í faith. The celebrations are held in a spirit of unity and friendship, open to anyone that would like to attend and experience the Bahá’í living faith and history.

Other interesting posts:

• The Ascension of `Abdu’l-Bahá Is Celebrated by the Bahá’í
• Bahá’i Celebrates the Birth of the Baha’u'llah
• Declaration of the Báb Commemorated by Followers of Bahá’í

Declaration of the Báb: May 23

Declaration of the Báb is a religious observance for the followers of Bahá’í.

On May 23, followers of the Bahá’í faith celebrate the Declaration of the Báb, Baha’u’llah’s forerunner. On this date, in 1844, the Báb (Arabic for “gate”) announced that he was the carrier of the news of the Divine Revelation. It is one of the nine holy days in which Bahá’Ă­s do not work.

History of Declaration of the Báb

On May 23, 1844, Siyyid `Alí Mulammad Shírází declared himself to the Promised One of Islam, the Qa’im, taking the title of Báb. The Báb was the leader of the Badi Faith. Baha’u’llah was to be a follower of the Báb and the one that the Báb knew was a manifestation of God.

Mullá Husayn, first disciple of the Báb, his brother, and a nephew were sent to the city of Shíráz on May 22, 1844, searching for the Qa’im. They went to the local mosque and waited. A young man approached them and greeted the party in a way that left Mullá Husayn surprised and intrigued. He went with the young man to his house where they drank tea, and preparations were made for the evening prayer. As time approached to leave for the evening prayer in the mosque, Mullá Husayn excused himself to leave, but the young man, identifying himself as Siyyid `Alí Mulammad Shírází, asked him to stay and proclaimed himself the Qa’im that they were looking for.

Siyyid Alí Muhammád began to demonstrate how the signs of the coming of the Qa’im were related to him. Mullá Husayn had prepared some tests for anyone that would claim to be the Qa’im. Siyyid Alí Muhammád gave all the right answers in a proper and fast way. Mullá Husayn was impressed, and from that day forward Siyyid Alí Muhammád was called the Báb, or the Gate, with Mullá Husayn becoming his first disciple.

This day marked the beginning of persecutions and thousands of deaths among the Báb’s followers. Mullá Husayn was killed in 1849, and the Báb was executed soon after in 1850. His message remained alive, and today millions of Bahá’Ă­s celebrate on May 23 the Declaration of the Báb as one of the greatest and most significant of all holy days.

Declaration of the Báb Traditions, Customs and Activities

The Declaration of the Báb is celebrated at about two hours after sunset. Bahá’Ă­s get together on this day and profess their faith by retelling the story of the Báb and his declaration. After the formal programs that are prepared by each group, there is food, conversation, and singing, all in a very welcoming spirit to everyone as it is common of the Baha’i faith. The celebrations are held in a spirit of unity and friendship, open to anyone that would like to attend and experience the Baha’i living faith and history.

Other interesting posts:

• Ascension of Baha’u'llah Commemorated by Followers of Bahá’í
• The First Day of Ridván Festival Celebrated by Followers of Bahá’í
• The Ninth Day of Ridván Festival Celebrated by Followers of Bahá’í