Look up
when I tasted the rain
there was salt on my tongue,
and I knew the sea was in the sky today.
there is dust on my hands
and I wait.
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Tomorrow is the first day of Ridvan, one of the “Most Great Festivals” in the Baha’i Faith, and which lasts for 12 days. At the Baha’i World Centre, we will celebrate this day at Bahji, where Baha’u'llah was laid to rest. I hope everyone has a wonderful Ridvan.
hey Sholeh, I’m a random person (celtalitha) off LjBaha’i.
I was just wondering, what does celebrating Ridvan entail? What do people do for it?
(I suppose I can search this online, I just thought it would be interesting to hear a more individual answer.)
Hi Marcia! Well, the wonderful thing about Baha’i Holy Days is that there are very few traditions or ways to celebrate them, so they can be different around the world.
Yesterday they had refreshments (cookies & water) before the program. They set up chairs on the path around the Shrine of Baha’u'llah, had prayers and readings from the Baha’i Writings, and then we circled the Shrine. Afterwards, people chatted, went to the Shrine to pray, or walked around the gardens. I spent the evening with friends…we cooked together and watched movies.
In some places, people have dinner parties, evening events, invite friends & family, go on picnics…the list is endless.
My friend Leila has put a beautiful explanation of Ridvan here in Israel (with pictures) here: http://lovefromleila.blogspot.com/2007/04/happy-ridvan-friends.html
Oh how I love that poem. And thanks…I can almost feel how special it must be to celebrate Ridvan *at the Shrine.*
Thank you George!
I also loved that poem.
i’ve liked all of them (I’m reading downwards), but I guess it took till now to decide this is the definitive moment to post a comment.
Thank you Quddus.