Bahá'í Holy Days

There are eleven Holy Days which Bahá'ís celebrate. On all but two of these days, all work should cease. They are listed in chronological order according to the Bahá'í calendar.

Naw Rúz -- March 21
The Bahá'í New Year

Ridván

• First Day -- April 21
• Ninth Day -- April 29
• Twelfth Day -- May 2

The Ridván (pronouced "riz-wan") festival commemorates the first public declaration by Bahá'u'lláh of His Station and mission (in 1863).

Declaration of the Báb -- May 23
Commemorates the date in 1844 when the Báb first declared His mission

Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh -- May 29
Commemorates the date in 1892 when Bahá'u'lláh ascended to heaven (i.e., passed away)

Martyrdom of the Báb -- July 9
Commemorates the date in 1850 when the Báb was executed by a 750-man firing squad in Tabríz, Iran

Birth of the Báb -- Oct. 20
Commemorates the date in 1819 when the Báb was born in Shíráz, Iran

Birth of Bahá'u'lláh -- Nov. 12
Commemorates the date in 1817 when Bahá'u'lláh was born in Tihran, Iran

Work does not have to cease on these Holy Days:

Day of the Covenant -- Nov. 26
This day is celebrated in lieu of the Birth of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, which falls on the same day as the Declaration of the Báb.

Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá -- Nov. 28
Commemorates the day in 1921 when 'Abdu'l-Bahá ascended to heaven (i.e., passed away)

Sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Detroit

Revised July 05, 2002
Written by Roger Reini  (roger@rreini.com)