Feast of Ridvan

Ridvan, Feast of

April 21-May 2The 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.
CONTACTS:
Baha'i National Center
1233 Central St.
Evanston, IL 60201
800-228-6483 or 847-733-3559; fax: 847-733-3578
www.us.bahai.org
SOURCES:
AnnivHol-2000, p. 64
ConEncyBahai-2000, p. 296
DictWrldRel-1989, pp. 87, 89
OxYear-1999, p. 694
RelHolCal-2004, p. 155