This is the first year that Baha’is around the world will celebrate two of their most important holy days on consecutive days, November 13 and 14. The first day commemorates the birth of the Bab, the Herald of the Baha’i Faith, and the second, the birth of Baha’u’llah, the Founder of the Baha’i Faith.
Baha’is in Western countries previously observed these two holy days according to the Gregorian calendar. In keeping with the gradual unfoldment and progressive application of the Baha’i teachings, this year the supreme governing council of the Baha’i Faith, the Universal House of Justice, inaugurated the common implementation of the Baha’i calendar, known as the Badi calendar, worldwide.
The Bab and Baha’u’llah were born on consecutive days in the same lunar calendar month, though in different years, the Bab in 1819, and Baha’u’llah in 1817. In accord with authoritative provisions regarding the Badi calendar, combining primarily solar features with some lunar elements, these two Baha’i holy days will now be celebrated on consecutive days throughout the world. As the fixing of these two holy days in the Badi calendar relates to the lunar cycle, the days will shift within the Gregorian calendar. In 2016, they will be celebrated on November 1st and 2nd.
The Baha’i Faith is a monotheistic religion whose central teaching, Baha’u’llah taught, has to do with the unity of the human family: “He Who is your Lord, the All-Merciful, cherisheth in His heart the desire of beholding the entire human race as one soul and one body.” Baha’is consider the Bab and Baha’u’llah to be the latest in a line of Divine Messengers that includes Krishna, Buddha, Moses, Christ, and Mohammed. These Messengers of God provide education for the peoples of the world and serve to advance the spiritual, intellectual and moral capacity of humanity.
The Birth of the Bab and the Birth of Baha’u’llah are two of nine holy days Baha’is commemorate throughout the year. Baha’is together with their friends and families will celebrate these two holy days with devotional programs and reflections on the lives of the Bab and Baha’u’llah, and their teachings.