Baha'is observe what we call the Twelve Days of Ridvan (Sounds like "Riz-wan") ever year.
Historical Background:
In April of 1863 Baha'u'llah stayed in what we call the Garden of Ridvan and known as the Najibiyyih which was actually an island in the Tigris River outside Baghdad for twelve days.. on His way to Istanbul summoned by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Baha'u'llah declared that He was "Him Whom God would make manifest" promised by the Bab.
"With the Declaration of Bah�'u'll�h the prophecies of the B�b concerning the appearance of 'Him Whom God shall make manifest' were fulfilled. The B�b had alluded in His Writings to the scene of Bah�'u'll�h's Declaration in 'Ridvan' and to the wafting of the breezes of His Revelation from 'Baghdad'. He had also foretold in the Persian Bayan that He would be manifested on the completion of the first Vahid (nineteen years) of the B�b� Dispensation, which began in 1844. In the first chapter of the Qayy�mu'l-Asm�', which was revealed when the B�b communicated His Message to Mulla Husayn, He referred to the 'people of Baha' as the only 'companions of the Crimson-Coloured Ark' moving upon the 'Crimson Sea'. The 'Crimson Ark' was a reference to the Cause of Bah�'u'll�h, which was launched on the first day of Ridvan. The community of the Most Great Name emerged on that day, when the followers of Bah�'u'll�h acknowledged His station.
Of the twelve days that Bah�'u'll�h stayed in the Garden of Ridvan, three are regarded as Holy Days: the first day on which He declared Himself, the ninth day when all His family joined Him and rejoiced at His Declaration, and the twelfth day when He left that garden."
~ Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah v 1, p. 280
The Twelve Days of Ridvan (Paradise) are in the Baha'i (Badi) Calendar from sunset April 20th to sunset May 2nd.. this year.
The First, Ninth and Twelfth Days of Ridvan are Holy Days when work and school attendance are suspended.
Elections:
Of these twelve days the First Day of Ridvan which starts this year in the Gregorian Calendar after sunset Wednesday April 20th is the day local Baha'i communities elect Local Spiritual Assemblies around the world wherever there are nine adult believers in a given jurisdiction.
The Assembly is the local institution responsible for the activities of the Baha'is in their area.. It can also be consulted for issues concerning the Baha'is. Baha'i marriages are recognized by the Local Assembly and it is the Assembly's responsibility to see that Baha'i laws are observed..
Also every National Spiritual Assembly representing the Baha'is of over a hundred nations have convention this time every year and elect the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of a given country..
Last edited by arthra; 04/18/11 03:01 AM.
