Bahá'ís of Eliot

Baha'i Holy Days

All are welcome to join us in our holy day observances. See listings on our website home page or contact us at secretary@bahaisofeliot.org.

The Baha'i day starts at sunset, so each holy day would start the evening before, for example Naw Ruz, our New Year's Day, is often celebrated starting at sunset on March 20th.

These and Other Special Days Observed by Baha'is: 

Naw-Rúz (March 21): The Baha’i New Year’s Day coincides with the spring equinox. Naw-Ruz is an ancient Persian festival celebrating the "new day," and for Baha'is it marks the end of the annual 19-Day Fast and is one of the nine holy days of the year when work is suspended.

Festival of Ridvan (April 21-May 2): The annual Baha’i festival commemorates the 12 days (April 21-May 2, 1863) when Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i Faith, resided in a garden called Ridvan (Paradise) in Baghdad, Iraq. At this time He publicly proclaimed His mission as God’s messenger for this age. The first (April 21), ninth (April 29) and twelfth (May 2) days are celebrated as holy days when work is suspended.

Declaration of the Bab (May 23): The Baha’i commemorates May 23, 1844, when the Bab, the herald of the Baha’i Faith, announced in Shiraz, Persia (now Iran), that he was the herald of a new messenger of God. It is one of the nine holy days of the year when work is suspended. The observance is usually held about 3 hours after sunset.

Ascension of Baha’u’llah (May 29): Baha’is observe the anniversary of the death in exile of Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i Faith, on May 29, 1892, outside Akko (also known as Akka or Acre), in what is now northern Israel. It is one of the nine holy days of the year where work is suspended. The observance is usually held close to 4 A.M. DST.