Tag: unity

Nine lives? No, nine major faiths working as one. . .

Published on by TVBahaiLeave a comment

Thames Valley Baha’i Community has welcomed a government-sponsored initiative to encourage people of all beliefs to help improve their local neighbourhoods.

Launched at the national Baha’i centre in London, it’s a move to promote collaboration between the UK’s nine major faith communities – Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian.

Shawn Khorassani, a Thames Valley Baha’i, said: “This announcement is great news, coming as it did just a couple of weeks before Naw-Ruz – which symbolises new beginnings in the Baha’i faith. Unity is very important to Baha’is. We hope this will help to cement relationships between the UK’s nine major faiths.”

The program, titled “A Year of Service”, aims to recognise the role of faith in inspiring charitable work. Twelve special volunteering days are being held during 2012, each of them coinciding with an existing religious festival and focusing on a distinct theme for community action.

First day of spring heralds a new year

Published on by TVBahaiLeave a comment

For most people in West Berkshire, 21 March won’t anything out of the ordinary. But for the area’s Bahá’í Community, it will be their New Year’s Day.

The Bahá’í New Year, also known as Naw-Ruz (which means New Day), coincides with the start of spring and is the year 167 in the Bahá’í calendar, which dates from 1844 (birth of the Bahá’í Faith).

Myra Erbenova, a member of the Bahá’í Faith in West Berkshire, said: “As the official start of spring, this is a perfect time to celebrate starting afresh and committing ourselves to a spiritual awakening. Just as everything is coming alive after the winter, Bahá’ís view the New Year as a time of promise and hope for unity.”

Naw-Ruz is often celebrated with an evening of prayers from the Bahá’í scriptures, music, dance and food. For more details about the Bahá’í Faith, please call 07964 676461.