April 21-May 2 - Feast of Ridvan

The Feast of Ridvan is a Baha'i celebration to commemorate a 12-day period in 1863.

That's when the Baha'i founder, Baha'u'llah (which means "Glory of God"), made the
declaration that he was God's messenger for this age�the one foreseen by the Bab to
be a prophet of the same rank as Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, Krishna,
and Zoroaster.

The first, ninth, and 12th days of the period are holy days when work is suspended. The
celebration starts at sunset, April 20, the eve of Ridvan.

When he made his declaration, Baha'u'llah was staying outside Baghdad, Iraq, at a
garden he called Ridvan, meaning "Paradise."

On the first day, he declared his manifestation to his family and close associates. On the
ninth day other followers joined him, and the declaration of his station became public
knowledge. On the 12th day, he left the garden.

Nineteen years earlier, the Bab had prophesied that one greater than he would come (
see Bab, Declaration of the); Baha'u'llah's proclamation stated that he was the
"promised one."

He set forth the form of the Baha'i religion, teaching the unity of all religions and the
unity and brotherhood of all mankind. He wrote more than 100 works of sacred literature.

Full story:
https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Feast+of+Ridvan

Mike Dippel

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