Author: TVBahai

Activities in Thames Valley Bahai Community. Baha'i Faith in the UK Baha'i Religion Spiritual and Material

Is April 21 important to you?

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Ridvan Garden - meaning 'paradise' in Arabic.
Ridvan Garden - meaning 'paradise' in Arabic. Reprinted with permission of the Bahá’í International Community.

The Festival of Ridvan, celebrated from April 21 to May 2 1863, commemorates the 12 days when Bahá’u’lláh resided in a garden called Ridvan (Paradise) in Baghdad.

At this time, He publicly proclaimed His mission as God’s messenger – that He was the Promised One of all earlier religions. 

The first (April 21), ninth (April 29) and twelfth (May 2) are holy days when work is suspended. They mark the day of Bahá’u’lláh’s arrival in the garden, the arrival of His family and the group’s departure for Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) – where he was exiled.

Throughout Ridvan, Bahá’is gather for prayers and meditations and attend social gatherings. It is also during this time that elections take place for Bahá’i governing bodies.

10,000 days in prison

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10,000 days is a long time in anybody’s book, but especially so for Iran’s seven former Baha’i leaders.

Seven Bahá’í leaders - courtesy of Bahá’í International Community
Imprisoned for more than 10,000 days between them. Reprinted with permission of the Bahá’í International Community.

For on 1 April that’s how long they’d spent in prison between them.

Read more about the story of Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm here.

Ms. Sabet was detained on 5 March 2008. Her six colleagues were arrested in early morning raids on their homes on 14 May 2008.