Cultural Celebrations
Festival of Riḍván
The Festival of Riḍván (read as Rezvan), is an important event in the calendar of the Baháʼí Faith.
When is the Festival?
The Festival of Riḍván begins at sunset on the 13th of Jalál, which translates to the 20th or 21 April, depending on the date of the March (Spring) Equinox.
On the first, ninth and twelfth days of Ridván, work and school should be suspended.
What is the Festival of Riḍván all about?
Riḍván means “paradise” in Arabic.
Riḍván, or Riḍwān, is named for the Garden of Riḍván, Baghdad, where Bahá'u'lláh stayed for twelve days after the Ottoman Empire (1299 to 1922) exiled him from the city before he journeyed to Constantinople.
It is a time to reflect on Baha’u’llah’s vision for unity and for communities to think about the path of service they will tread together over the coming year in their efforts to realise this vision.
The Baháʼí Faith
TheBaháʼí Faith wasestablished in the 19th century, from the teachings and inspirations of a man named Baháʼu'lláh, originally from Persia (modern Islamic Republic of Iran).
The Baháʼí Faith teaches the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people. To those who follow the Baha'i Faith, this means that all the religions and faiths - from Abraham, Krishna, and Zoroaster, to Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muḥammad - are in essence successive chapters of one religion.
Bahá’í beliefs address essential themes such as the oneness of God and religion, the oneness of humanity and freedom from prejudice, the inherent nobility of the human being, the fundamental equality of the sexes, the harmony between religion and science, and the importance of education.
The Calendar
The Bahá’í calendar consists of 19 months of 19 days each, with the addition of intercalary days known as Ayyám-i-Há. The number of these intercalary days varies according to the timing of the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere in successive years.
The calendar began its life in the year 1844, and was introduced by a person called the Báb, before being confirmed by Bahá’u’lláh.
Therefore the current year in the Bahá’í calendar is 181.
For further information, see the following website:
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