Baháʼí Holy Days

The Baháʼí Faith has eleven holy days, which are important anniversaries in the history of the religion. On nine of these holy days, work is suspended.[1] There is no fixed format for any of the holy days, and Baháʼí communities organize their own commemorative meetings.[2]

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All but two of the holy days are scheduled annually on fixed dates in the Baháʼí calendar. The Twin Holy Birthdays are scheduled annually according to a lunar calculation.[3]

Besides the eleven holy days, Baháʼís also celebrate Ayyám-i-Há, a period of several extra days in the calendar (followed by the Nineteen Day Fast).

Table of dates
Holy Days
Name[2]Date on the Bahá'í calendarNumber of Days after Naw-RúzUsual date on the Gregorian Calendar
Naw-Rúz 20 March/Naw-Rúz 21 March		Special time of celebration or commemoration[2]Work Suspended[2]
Naw-Rúz (Baháʼí New Year)Bahá 1March 20/21-Yes
First day of RiḍvánJalál 1331April 20/213 p.m. (Standard Time)Yes
Ninth day of RiḍvánJamál 239April 28/29-Yes
Twelfth day of RiḍvánJamál 542May 1/2-Yes
Declaration of the BábʻAẓamat 864May 23/242 hours after sunset on preceding dayYes
Ascension of Baháʼu'lláhʻAẓamat 1369May 28/293 a.m. (Standard Time)Yes
Martyrdom of the BábRaḥmat 17111July 9/1012 noonYes
Birth of the BábFirst of the Twin Holy Birthdays; celebrated on the first day after the eighth new moon following Naw-Rúz (mid-October to mid-November)[3]-Yes
Birth of Baháʼu'lláhSecond of the Twin Holy Birthdays; celebrated on the second day after the eighth new moon following Naw-Rúz (mid-October to mid-November)[3]-Yes
Day of the CovenantQawl 4250November 25/26-No
Ascension of ʻAbdu'l-BaháQawl 6252November 27/281 a.m. (Standard Time)No

Historical dates
Historical dates, as celebrated in the west before March 21, 2015
Name[2]Gregorian Dates[2]
Naw-Rúz (Baháʼí New Year)March 21
First day of RiḍvánApril 21
Ninth day of RiḍvánApril 29
Twelfth day of RiḍvánMay 2
Declaration of the BábMay 24
Ascension of Baháʼu'lláhMay 29
Martyrdom of the BábJuly 10
Birth of the BábOctober 20
Birth of Baháʼu'lláhNovember 12
Day of the CovenantNovember 26
Ascension of ʻAbdu'l-BaháNovember 28

Holy days

General holy days

Naw-Rúz

Annually on Bahá 1. See Naw-Rúz

Holy days associated with the Báb

The Birth of the Báb

Annually in October or November. The Báb was born two years after Baháʼu'lláh, on the first of the Twin Holy Birthdays.

Declaration of the Báb

Annually on ʻAẓamat 8. See Declaration of the Bab to Mullá Husayn

Martyrdom of the Báb

Annually on Raḥmat 17. See Martyrdom of the Báb

Holy days associated with Baháʼu'lláh

The Birth of Baha'u'llah

Annually in October or November. Baháʼu'lláh was born on the second of the Twin Holy Birthdays. See also: Birth of Baha'u'llah.

Festival of Ridván

The Festival of Ridván, a twelve-day festival that commemorates Baháʼu'lláh's announcement to be the Manifestation of God, is the most holy Baháʼí festival to which Baháʼu'lláh referred as the "Most Great Festival."[4] The first, ninth and twelfth days of the festival are celebrated as holy days.

Annually on Jalál 13, Jamál 2 and Jamál 5.

See Festival of Ridván.

Ascension of Baháʼu'lláh

Annually on ʻAẓamat 13.

Holy days associated with ʻAbdu'l-Bahá

On these two holy days, the suspension of work is not required.

Day of the Covenant

Annually on Qawl 4. See Day of the Covenant

Ascension of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá

Annually on Qawl 6. See Ascension of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá

Twin Holy Birthdays

The Twin Holy Birthdays of the Báb and Baháʼu'lláh are celebrated on the first and second day following the eighth new moon after Naw-Rúz.[3][5] (In the Islamic lunar calendar, the births of the Báb and Baháʼu'lláh fell on consecutive days - the first and second day of Muharram, respectively, two years apart.[2][6])

See Twin Holy Birthdays and Birth of Baha'u'llah.

See also

References
  1. National Spiritual Assembly of the United States (2006-03-05). "The Badi Calendar" (PDF). bahai.us. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-23.
  2. Smith, Peter (2000). "holy days". A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 182–183. ISBN 1-85168-184-1.
  3. The Universal House of Justice (2014-07-10). "To the Baháʼís of the World". Retrieved 2014-07-10.
  4. Walbridge, John (2003-10-02). "Ridvan". Retrieved 2006-09-23.
  5. Momen, Moojan (2014). The Badíʻ (Baháʼí) Calendar: An Introduction.
  6. Taherzadeh, Adib (1987). The Revelation of Baháʼu'lláh, Volume 4: Mazra'ih & Bahji 1877-92. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. p. 334. ISBN 0-85398-270-8.

Further reading
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