April222009
Baha'is commemorate Baha'u'llah's public declaration of His mission
Yesterday marked the first day of a twelve day festival commemorated by Baha’is throughout the world. It is known as the period of Ridvan, named after the garden where Baha’u’llah publicly declared Himself as the Messenger of God for this Day in age. The article below sums it up well and is taken from the US Baha’i website:
In a garden of Paradise, the Baha’i Faith takes root
April 20, 2009 - 12:00am
What makes the Festival of Ridvan, celebrated April 21 to May 2, the holiest of days for Baha’is? It commemorates the anniversary of Baha’u’llah’s declaration in 1863 that He was the Promised One of all earlier religions.
Up to this point, Baha’u’llah, who was born into a noble Persian family in 1817, had dedicated His life to improving the world and helping others. He became one of the foremost followers of the Bab, for which He was imprisoned, tortured and banished from His native land.
After spending 10 years in exile in Baghdad, Baha’u’llah was ordered to Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) for another period of exile. Before leaving Baghdad, He spent 12 days in a garden on the banks of the Tigris River. The garden later was named Ridvan, meaning “Paradise” or “good pleasure” in Arabic.
As His followers gathered around Him, Baha’u’llah announced that He was the Promised One of all earlier religions — “Him Whom God shall make manifest.” His declaration marks the beginning of the Baha’i Faith.
Tags: /Ridvan
