Festival of Ridvan 2024 (US): Explore its History, Facts and FAQs

Festival of Ridvan 2024: Commencing annually on April 20 or 21, contingent upon the equinox of March, the Festival of Ridvan is a twelve-day religious celebration of the Baháʻí faith. In the current year, it will span from April 21 to May 3. The festival’s 12 days of celebration honor Baháʿu’lláh’s twelve-day sojourn in the garden of Ridvàn in Baghdad, the contemporary capital of Iraq, in 1863.

“Ridvàn” is an Arabic word that translates to “paradise.” He declared himself to his followers at this location as “The Promised One.” Observances of the Ridvan festival prohibit work on the initial, ninth, and final days, as they are considered sacred days.

Festival of Ridvan: History

Sayyed al-Muhammad Muḥammad Shráz proclaimed himself The Bab in 1844; his name translates to ‘gate’ in Arabic. He is regarded as a pivotal figure within the Baháʻí religion. Babs was the name given to Bab’s disciples. A messiah’s arrival had been foretold in various sacred texts before Bab predicted his arrival in one of his writings. The Bab believed that it was his responsibility to inspire and guide the populace’s thoughts and actions. He conferred the name “He whom God shall manifest” upon this notion. The Persian authorities ultimately executed him in 1850 as a result of his teachings and the Babi movement.

One of the Bab’s adherents, Baháu’lláh, was incarcerated in Siyah-Chal, Tehran, Iran, in 1853. During his imprisonment, he allegedly received the revelation that had been prophesied. He established himself in Baghdad after his emancipation from Persia. As soon as the Bab was executed, the Bábís began to regard Baháʿu’lláh as their leader and frequently sought his counsel; Baghdad subsequently emerged as the epicenter of the Babis’ endeavors.

The Babis movement was seen by the Persian government and Islamic clerics as a rising threat to their dominance, which led to the successful summons of Baháʿu’lláh to Constantinople. Before his departure, Baháʼu’lláh moved to the Garden of Ridvan to accommodate the many people who came to pay their respects and help his family get ready for the voyage to Constantinople.
He spent twelve days in the garden after entering it on April 22, 1863. He proclaimed his mission to be the one that the Bab had foretold as being in the garden. A celebration of a new faith ensued following what had been intended to be a sorrowful departure for the Babis.

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Festival of Ridvan: FAQs

Present Baha’i authorities include which individuals?

Vahid Tizfahm, Afif Naeimi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Fariba Kamalabadi are the seven religious leaders of the Baha’i faith.

How did Baha’u’llah pass away?

On May 29, 1892, at the age of 74, Baha’u’llah passed away in Bahji from an illness.

As the head of the Baháʻí faith, who succeeded Baha’u’llah?

After his father, Abdul’l-Bahá became the leader of the Baháʻí religion.

Festival of Ridvan: Activities

Be mindful of the sacred days

Holy days are observed during the festival on the first, ninth, and twelfth. All labor should cease for Baha’i adherents on these specified days.

Cultivate affection

Observance and jubilation characterize the Ridvan festival. Due to this, one ought to abstain from committing any evil deeds and exclusively exchange affection.

Employ hashtags.

Inform all individuals about the purpose of this festival. Utilize the hashtag #festivalofridvan when sharing a hyperlink to our article.

5 Amazing Facts about the Festival of Ridvan

Day one is a sacred occasion.

The day Baha’u’llah entered the garden of Ridvan and proclaimed himself to be the prophesied one is commemorated on the first day of the festival.

Critical is the ninth day.

Bahá’u’lláh was joined in the Ridvan garden by his family on the ninth day.

Special occurs on the twelfth day.

Baháʿu’lláh traveled to Constantinople on the twelfth and final day, where he was placed into exile.

What he said endures.

Baha’u’llah’s teachings from the garden are recited by adherents of the Baháʻí faith throughout the Festival of Ridvan.

A World Center for Baha’is

Conventions to elect members of the Universal House of Justice of the Baha’i faith are convened every five years at the Baha’i World Center in Haifa, Israel.