On 21 April, Baha’is across Canada will celebrate the first day of the Festival of Ridvan — also known as “the King of Festivals” — the most important of the Baha’i holy days. Lasting for twelve days, the festival commemorates the public announcement by Baha’u’llah in 1863 that He was a Messenger of God. Baha’u’llah is the Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Faith.
In more than 2,300 localities, Canadian Baha’is will come together with their friends to share the joy of the celebrations. The holy day is observed with fellowship, devotional programs and music. The festivities may vary depending on the cultural characteristics of the local community.
The name of the festival means “paradise” in Arabic and derives from the beautiful Najibiyyih Garden in Baghdad.
In 1863, after receiving the order from the Ottoman authorities for His exile to Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey), Baha’u’llah moved out of His home in Baghdad to the Ridvan garden where He stayed from 21 April to 2 May, as preparations were made for the long journey. In this garden, Baha’u’llah began to publicly explain the nature and purpose of His mission. Many well-wishers came to see Baha’u’llah before His departure to Constantinople.
Baha’u’llah was exiled by the Ottoman authorities at the request of the Persian government, which was concerned about His growing influence. Baghdad was an important crossroads in the 19th century, and the Persian authorities feared that the new religion would spread within and beyond the region if Baha’u’llah were allowed to stay in the city and meet with travelers and pilgrims.
Baha’u’llah’s exile took Him to Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey), Adrianople (Edirne, Turkey), and finally in 1868 to the prison city of Acre (Akka, in what was then a remote part of the Ottoman Empire, now present-day Israel), where He would spend His last 24 years.
Ridvan is also the period when Baha’is elect their local and national governing councils, called Spiritual Assemblies. Hundreds of Canadian Baha’i communities will elect nine-member Local Spiritual Assemblies. These Assemblies are responsible for managing the affairs of the local Baha’i community for the next year. Over 170 delegates from across Canada will attend the National Baha’i Convention in Toronto, 24–27 April, to elect the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Canada, the nine-member national governing council for 2014–2015.
In electing their governing councils, Baha’is strive to maintain the spiritual nature of the process. There are no nominations, and voters consider qualifications of service to the greater community in determining those they choose to elect by secret ballot. Each individual has the freedom to vote for those who best reflect the qualities “of unquestioned loyalty, of selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability and mature experience.”
Three days of the 12-day festival, from 21 April to 2 May, are observed as Baha’i holy days: April 21, the declaration of Baha’u’llah; April 29, the date His family joined him in the garden; and May 2, when Baha’u’llah and His family departed from the garden.