Beginning on the 19th of April the Edmonton Baháʼí community, and Baháʼí communities world-over, will celebrate Riḍván.
Known as the Most Holy Festival, Riḍván, is a twelve-day festival marking the anniversary of the days during which Baháʼu’lláh, the Prophet founder of the Baháʼí Faith, spent in a Najibiyyih garden along the Tigris River in Baghdad in 1863, prior to His exile to Constantinople. He called this garden “Riḍván”, the Arabic word for “paradise”.
The period was particularly significant, as it was during these 12-days that Baháʼu’lláh declared, before His many admirers who had come to bid Him farewell from the city, that He was God’s Messenger for a new age, foretold in the holy scriptures of the past. It was during this period that Baháʼu’lláh laid out the spiritual principles which signal a new stage in the evolution in the life of humanity.
As to the significance of His Declaration during Riḍván, Baháʼu’lláh, Himself, acclaims:
“Rejoice, ye dwellers of the realms above, for the fingers of Him Who is the Ancient of Days are ringing, in the name of the All-Glorious, the Most Great Bell, in the midmost heart of the heavens. The hands of bounty have borne round the cup of everlasting life. Approach, and quaff your fill.”
Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pg. 33
As to the impact of the Declaration of Baháʼu’lláh, the Guardian of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, in his work, “God Passes By”, quotes from its Source, Who exclaims:
“We perceive the fragrance of the Day whereon He Who is the Desire of all nations hath shed upon the kingdoms of the unseen and of the seen the splendors of the light of His most excellent names, and enveloped them with the radiance of the luminaries of His most gracious favors…”.
In addition to being one of the most significant anniversaries in the Baháʼí Faith, it is also the timeframe during which the ‘ electoral process unfolds. In localities around the world on the first day of Riḍván, Baháʼís vote for their local governing councils, called Local Spiritual Assemblies. National Conventions, during which delegates assemble in their jurisdiction to elect their National Spiritual Assemblies, also occur during Riḍván. To learn more about the Baháʼí electoral process CLICK HERE.
In addition to community-wide events, Baháʼís spend these 12-days celebrating with their families and friends:
“… besides participating in Bahai Community activities, we celebrate it quietly and privately with our family. This could include having a special meal together and doing an activity that we all enjoy. I try to incorporate a service component to the celebration too.”
— Mehran Crewe, a member of the Baháʼí community of Edmonton
For others it is also a time to remember the beauty and enchantment of that blessed time:
“From the time I was a child, growing up in Iran, I always remember the occasion being filled with flowers. We remember the account from Nabil’s Narrative of the gardeners in the Garden of Riḍván piling Bahá’u’lláh’s tent with roses, so high that the believers could not see each other over them. These were the sights and scents that accompanied the spirit of joy and celebration during Riḍván for my family and I.”
— Mitra Knight, a member of the Baháʼí community of Edmonton
On behalf of the Edmonton Baháʼí community, we wish you a happy Riḍván!