Baha'i events in the next few months...

Arthra

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I've been interested in how our calendars of the various Faiths work and for Baha'is in the next month or so we have several important dates and so thought I would share them here on this forum...

Baha'is do have a unique calendar which is solar. Our day begins at sunset and our year begins on March 20th - 21st (Naw-Ruz) which is the ancient Persian New Year. The end of February of the Gregorian calendar we have four to five days called "Ayyam-i-Ha" which are days of exchanging gifts, sharing food and having fellowship. Ayyam-i-Ha starts on February 25th this year. After Ayyam-i-Ha we have a nineteen day Fast from food and drink between sunrise and sunset, there are exemptions from Fasting for Baha'is who have medical issues, hard labor or travelling. Children up to fifteen years of age are exempt.

After the Fast we have the Baha'i New Year (Naw-Ruz) on March 20th the Vernal Equinox and this year for Baha'is will be 177 of the Baha'i Era (B.E.). Following the Fast I can tell you Naw-Ruz is very welcome indeed and usually includes picnics, banquets, etc.
 

Arthra

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Baha'is have begun the Nineteen Day Fast which consists of abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset for nineteen days … the last month in the Baha'i year... the month of 'Ala or Loftiness.

The purpose of Fasting is spiritual:

Fasting, said ‘Abdu’l-Bahá “is the cause of awakening man. The heart becomes tender and the spirituality of man increases. This is produced by the fact that man’s thoughts will be confined to the commemoration of God, and through this awakening and stimulation surely ideal advancements follow”.1

However, it is important to note that fasting should not be viewed as a practice of asceticism, nor is it to be used as a means of penance: “[T]his material fast is an outer token of the spiritual fast; it is a symbol of self-restraint, the withholding of oneself from all appetites of the self, taking on the characteristics of the spirit, being carried away by the breathings of heaven and catching fire from the love of God.”2

Fasting | What Bahá’ís Believe

A prayer for the Fast:

"I beseech Thee, O my God, by Thy mighty Sign, and by the revelation of Thy grace amongst men, to cast me not away from the gate of the city of Thy presence, and to disappoint not the hopes I have set on the manifestations of Thy grace amidst Thy creatures. Thou seest me, O my God, holding to Thy Name, the Most Holy, the Most Luminous, the Most Mighty, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious, and clinging to the hem of the robe to which have clung all in this world and in the world to come.

"I beseech Thee, O my God, by Thy most sweet Voice and by Thy most exalted Word, to draw me ever nearer to the threshold of Thy door, and to suffer me not to be far removed from the shadow of Thy mercy and the canopy of Thy bounty. Thou seest me, O my God, holding to Thy Name, the Most Holy, the Most Luminous, the Most Mighty, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious, and clinging to the hem of the robe to which have clung all in this world and in the world to come.

Read the complete prayer at
I beseech Thee, O my God...

Exemptions from Fasting:

There are exemptions permitted from Fasting.... among which are:

"The sick, elderly, and very young are exempt from fasting, as are pregnant or nursing mothers, travellers and those doing heavy physical work.

"If a Holy Day occurs during the traditional period of fasting, then the fast is not obligatory on those days."

BBC - Religions - Bahai: Bahá'ís and fasting
 
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Arthra

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This article is an excerpt from

Fasting | What Bahá’ís Believe

Bahá’u’lláh designated a nineteen-day period each year during which adult Bahá’ís fast from sunrise to sunset each day. This period coincides with the Bahá’í month of Alá—meaning Loftiness—from 2 to 20 March, which immediately precedes the Bahá’í new year. It is a time of prayer, meditation, and spiritual rejuvenation.

A number of special prayers have been revealed specifically for the period of the fast. One, for example, begins with these words:

This is, O my God, the first of the days on which Thou hast bidden Thy loved ones to observe the Fast. I ask of Thee by Thy Self and by him who hath fasted out of love for Thee and for Thy good-pleasure—and not out of self and desire, nor out of fear of Thy wrath—and by Thy most excellent names and august attributes, to purify Thy servants from the love of aught except Thee and to draw them nigh unto the Dawning-Place of the lights of Thy countenance and the Seat of the throne of Thy oneness. Illumine their hearts, O my God, with the light of Thy knowledge and brighten their faces with the rays of the Daystar that shineth from the horizon of Thy Will.”3

Fasting-photo.jpg
 
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Arthra

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This year the Baha'i New Year occurs on March 20th which is Friday. Baha'i days begin and end at sunset. This year for Baha'is is 177 of the Baha'i Era. I'm attaching a fifty year calendar that shows the Gregorian equivalent of the Baha'i Holy Days:

50-year-Holy-Day-Calendar.pdf

Naw-Ruz is a happy time and the end of our Fast. We usually have picnics and dinners to celebrate.

A prayer for Naw-Ruz:

"Praised be Thou, O my God, that Thou hast ordained Naw-Rúz as a festival unto those who have observed the Fast for love of Thee and abstained from all that is abhorrent unto thee. Grant, O my Lord, that the fire of Thy love and the heat produced by the Fast enjoined by Thee may inflame them in Thy Cause, and make them to be occupied with Thy praise and with remembrance of Thee.

"Since thou hast adorned them, O my Lord, with the ornament of the Fast prescribed by Thee, do Thou adorn them also with the ornament of Thine acceptance, through Thy grace and bountiful favor. For the doings of men are all dependent upon Thy good-pleasure, and are conditioned by Thy behest. Shouldst Thou regard him who hath broken the Fast as one who hath observed it, such a man would be reckoned among them who from eternity had been keeping the Fast. And shouldst Thou decree that he who hath observed the Fast hath broken it, that person would be numbered with such as have caused the Robe of Thy Revelation to be stained with dust, and been far removed from the crystal waters of this living Fountain."

Read more of the prayer at

Naw-Rúz

 
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Arthra

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This year the Baha'i New Year occurs on March 20th which is Friday. Baha'i days begin and end at sunset. This year for Baha'is is 177 of the Baha'i Era. I'm attaching a fifty year calendar that shows the Gregorian equivalent of the Baha'i Holy Days:

50-year-Holy-Day-Calendar.pdf

Naw-Ruz is a happy time and the end of our Fast. We usually have picnics and dinners to celebrate.

A prayer for Naw-Ruz:

"Praised be Thou, O my God, that Thou hast ordained Naw-Rúz as a festival unto those who have observed the Fast for love of Thee and abstained from all that is abhorrent unto thee. Grant, O my Lord, that the fire of Thy love and the heat produced by the Fast enjoined by Thee may inflame them in Thy Cause, and make them to be occupied with Thy praise and with remembrance of Thee.

"Since thou hast adorned them, O my Lord, with the ornament of the Fast prescribed by Thee, do Thou adorn them also with the ornament of Thine acceptance, through Thy grace and bountiful favor. For the doings of men are all dependent upon Thy good-pleasure, and are conditioned by Thy behest. Shouldst Thou regard him who hath broken the Fast as one who hath observed it, such a man would be reckoned among them who from eternity had been keeping the Fast. And shouldst Thou decree that he who hath observed the Fast hath broken it, that person would be numbered with such as have caused the Robe of Thy Revelation to be stained with dust, and been far removed from the crystal waters of this living Fountain."

Read more of the prayer at

Naw-Rúz
 
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Arthra

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Ancient history of Naw-Ruz:

The Iranian New Year; Naw-Ruz, (means New Day), is a celebration of spring Equinox. It is the most cherished of all the Iranian festivals and is celebrated by all. This occasion has been renowned in one form or another by all the major cultures of ancient Mesopotamia. What we have today as No Ruz with its uniquely Iranian characteristics has been celebrated for at least 2,500 years and is deeply rooted in the rituals and traditions of the Zoroastrian belief system of the Sasanian period (3rd-7th century AD). This was the religion of Ancient Persia before the advent of Islam in the 7th century AD. The familiar concepts of Hell, Heaven, Resurrection, the coming of the Messiah, individual and last judgment were incorporated for the first time into this belief system. They still exist in Judo-Christian and Islamic traditions. In order to understand No Ruz we have to know about Zoroastrians’ cosmology.

The Origin, History & Symbolism of No Ruz (Nowruz)
 
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I've been interested in how our calendars of the various Faiths work and for Baha'is in the next month or so we have several important dates and so thought I would share them here on this forum...

Baha'is do have a unique calendar which is solar. Our day begins at sunset and our year begins on March 20th - 21st (Naw-Ruz) which is the ancient Persian New Year. The end of February of the Gregorian calendar we have four to five days called "Ayyam-i-Ha" which are days of exchanging gifts, sharing food and having fellowship. Ayyam-i-Ha starts on February 25th this year. After Ayyam-i-Ha we have a nineteen day Fast from food and drink between sunrise and sunset, there are exemptions from Fasting for Baha'is who have medical issues, hard labor or travelling. Children up to fifteen years of age are exempt.

After the Fast we have the Baha'i New Year (Naw-Ruz) on March 20th the Vernal Equinox and this year for Baha'is will be 177 of the Baha'i Era (B.E.). Following the Fast I can tell you Naw-Ruz is very welcome indeed and usually includes picnics, banquets, etc.
Would u like to discuss faiths. Why wont any bahi debate his beliefs?
 
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Arthra

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Because he created the universe we are today living in

Yes indeed! "God created the universe."
The Corona Virus seems to have thrown a bit of a "curve" to us and unfortunately we've had to cancel some of our usual programs. I trust you are well!

- Art
 
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Ancient history of Naw-Ruz:

The Iranian New Year; No Ruz, (means New Day), is a celebration of spring Equinox. It is the most cherished of all the Iranian festivals and is celebrated by all. This occasion has been renowned in one form or another by all the major cultures of ancient Mesopotamia. What we have today as No Ruz with its uniquely Iranian characteristics has been celebrated for at least 2,500 years and is deeply rooted in the rituals and traditions of the Zoroastrian belief system of the Sasanian period (3rd-7th century AD). This was the religion of Ancient Persia before the advent of Islam in the 7th century AD. The familiar concepts of Hell, Heaven, Resurrection, the coming of the Messiah, individual and last judgment were incorporated for the first time into this belief system. They still exist in Judo-Christian and Islamic traditions. In order to understand No Ruz we have to know about Zoroastrians’ cosmology.

The Origin, History & Symbolism of No Ruz (Nowruz)

Hi Art,
this may be of interest, a clip from an interview with a Persian born Jew who as a young man emmigrated to the US;
"By way of background I need to point out that there were 100,000 Jews happily living in Iran under the rule
of the Shah.
In those days they had a great deal of freedom,
both personal and religious (even if there were some
restrictions).

This was true until the overthrow of the Monarchy in January 1979,
and the establishment of an Islamic republic under
Ayatolla Khomeini.

The Persian Jews did not want to get rid of the Shah,
they loved him,
he was a peaceful man, a behind-the -scenes friend of the State of Israel."

The man being interviewed also became involved in the project of rescuing the Jewish children of Iran.
 
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Arthra

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Robban… Thanks for posting! Yes it's interesting! Baha'is had their own cemeteries and administrative buildings in Tehran under the Shah... Since 1979 Baha'i Holy Places were destroyed and cemeteries have been destroyed or taken over...

I had some work done on my house not long ago and the workers were Kurdish. They had a Baha'i relative so it's interesting to meet and talk with people from the middle east and learn from them.

Back to the Corona virus affects.... We had an online devotional this morning and participants from Hemet to Santa Cruz in California.

I trust all is well with you and your family!
 
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Robban

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Robban… Thanks for posting! Yes it's interesting! Baha'is had their own cemeteries and administrative buildings in Tehran under the Shah... Since 1979 Baha'i Holy Places were destroyed and cemeteries have been destroyed or taken over...

I had some work done on my house not long ago and the workers were Kurdish. They had a Baha'i relative so it's interesting to meet and talk with people from the middle east and learn from them.

Back to the Corona virus affects.... We had an online devotional this morning and participants from Hemet to Santa Cruz in California.

I trust all is well with you and your family!

Yes two members of the forum have described the
position Baha-i,s have been placed in.

It is not good.

The corona virus is a major concern these days,
good for you that you could meet up with other Baha-i,s on-line.

I am doing ok, I do have two sisters left but it is years since I met them,
but I did manage to get hold of one of them on the phone, she was doing fine.

Keep well Art and your family.
 
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Arthra

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Ridvan is a twelve day period special to Baha'is... It celebrates the announcement by Baha'u'llah that He fulfilled the expectation of the His Predecessor the Bab that He was " Him Whom God would make manifest".

The Ridvan period is twelve days from April 21st to May 2nd each year. The first, ninth and twelfth days of Ridvan are Holy Days for Baha'is on which work and school attendance are suspended

Baha'u'llah had been in exile from Persia from 1853 and was directed to Baghdad in the Ottoman Empire at the time... Eventually Persian authorities requested the Ottoman Sultan to move Baha'u'llah as they felt He was too close to their sites of pilgrimage near Baghdad. Baha'u'llah then left His House in Baghdad and stayed temporarily for twelve days near the Tigris River in what was then the Ridvan Garden. The Sultan had ordered Him to travel to Istanbul (Constaninople).

John Walbridge has written a detailed account of the Ridvan Festival:

Ridvan

Read more:

Ridvan – The Greatest Baha’i Festival

Baha'i Institutions are also elected April 21st the start of the Ridvan Festival... Local Spiritual Assemblies in various jurisdictions are elected and a National Convention is held to elected the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly.

This year due to the virus... and various restrictions on gatherings there will be more "absentee" voting permitted. The National Convention has been cancelled. Delegates have already been selected from voting in the Unit Conventions last October and they in turn will select the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly.
 
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public hermit

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Ridvan is a twelve day period special to Baha'is... It celebrates the announcement by Baha'u'llah that He fulfilled the expectation of the His Predecessor the Bab that He was " Him Whom God would make manifest".

The Ridvan period is twelve days from April 21st to May 2nd each year. The first, ninth and twelfth days of Ridvan are Holy Days for Baha'is on which work and school attendance are suspended

Baha'u'llah had been in exile from Persia from 1853 and was directed to Baghdad in the Ottoman Empire at the time... Eventually Persian authorities requested the Ottoman Sultan to move Baha'u'llah as they felt He was too close to their sites of pilgrimage near Baghdad. Baha'u'llah then left His House in Baghdad and stayed temporarily for twelve days near the Tigris River in what was then the Ridvan Garden. The Sultan had ordered Him to travel to Istanbul (Constaninople).

John Walbridge has written a detailed account of the Ridvan Festival:

Ridvan

Read more:

Ridvan – The Greatest Baha’i Festival

Baha'i Institutions are also elected April 21st the start of the Ridvan Festival... Local Spiritual Assemblies in various jurisdictions are elected and a National Convention is held to elected the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly.

This year due to the virus... and various restrictions on gatherings there will be more "absentee" voting permitted. The National Convention has been cancelled. Delegates have already been selected from voting in the Unit Conventions last October and they in turn will select the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly.

I appreciate your willingness to post all this here. I have an uncle who is Baha'i, so I have been reading and learning. Thank you.
 
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Arthra

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This year Ridvan will be observed beginning April 20th and due to the virus in my community we'll won't be having gatherings and Convention to elect members of our National Assembly or the members of our Local Spiritual Assemblies. The voting will be via absentee measures.. mail, etc. Every community that has at least nine adult believers elects nine members of the Spiritual Assembly in their community. There are no priests, ministers or clergy in the Baha'i Faith.

The Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette Illinois will have some online programs:

Broadcasts will be released at the following times:

First Day of Ridvan: Monday, April 20, 3:00 pm CDT

Ninth Day of Ridvan: Tuesday, April 28, 12:30 pm CDT

Twelfth Day of Ridvan: Friday, May 1, 12:30 pm CDT

BROADCAST LINKS AVAILABLE HERE
 
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