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The
Baha'i Calendar
" A new life is, in this age,
stirring
within all the peoples of the earth...." Baha'u'llah.
The Baha'i Faith, like other world
religions has its own calendar. The Badi or Baha'i Calendar was
introduced by The Bab. The Baha'i Era (BE) began with the Declaration
of the Bab in 1844.
A solar year has been adopted and the
Baha'i Year is fixed astronomically and begins on the March equinox
(March 21) each year with the Holy Day Naw Ruz (New year). In 2004, it
will be the year BE 161.
The Baha'i year consists of 19 months
of 19 days adding to 361. Four extra days are added (5 in leap
years) to total 365 days of the solar year. These days are
celebrated as a time of gift giving, hospitality, and preparing for the
fast. The Fast is a period of one Baha'i month of 19 days during which
Baha'is do not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. It is a time of
reflection, learning to be detached, and reliance on God. It is the
last month of the Baha'i year, and ends with the Naw Ruz (new
year) celebration.
On the first day of each Baha'i month
(every 19 days) is a Feast. This is the major activity for the Baha'i
community - a meeting when Baha'is get together for spiritual renewal,
community consultation, and socialising.
|
Months
|
Arabic
|
English
|
Gregorian
|
|
1
|
Baha
|
Splendour
|
March 21
|
|
2
|
Jalal
|
Glory
|
April 9
|
|
3
|
Jamal
|
Beauty
|
April 28
|
|
4
|
'Azamat
|
Grandeur
|
May 17
|
|
5
|
Nur
|
Light
|
June 5
|
|
6
|
Rahmat
|
Mercy
|
June 24
|
|
7
|
Kalimat
|
Words
|
July 13
|
|
8
|
Kamal
|
Perfection
|
August 1
|
|
9
|
Asma'
|
Names
|
August 20
|
|
10
|
'Izzat
|
Might
|
September 8
|
|
11
|
Mashiyyat
|
Will
|
September 27
|
|
12
|
'Ilm
|
Knowledge
|
October 16
|
|
13
|
Qudrat
|
Power
|
November 4
|
|
14
|
Qawl
|
Speech
|
November 23
|
|
15
|
Masa'il
|
Questions
|
December 12
|
|
16
|
Sharaf
|
Honour
|
December 31
|
|
17
|
Sultan
|
Sovereignty
|
January 19
|
|
18
|
Mulk
|
Dominion
|
February 7
|
|
--
|
Ayyam-i-Ha
|
Intercalary
|
February 26
|
|
19
|
'Ala'
|
Loftiness
|
March 2
|
There are also a
number of Holy days commemorated throughout the year
|
March 21
|
Naw-Ruz
(Bahá'í New Year)
|
|
April 21
|
First Day of Ridvan
|
|
April 29
|
Ninth Day of Ridvan
|
|
May 2
|
Twelfth Day of Ridvan
|
|
May 23
|
Declaration of the Bab
|
|
May 29
|
Ascension of Baha'u'llah
|
|
July 9
|
Martyrdom of the Bab
|
|
October 20
|
Birth of the Bab
|
|
November 12
|
Birth of Baha'u'llah
|
|
November 26
|
Day of the Covenant
|
|
November 28
|
Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha
|
Like
other Baha'i Teachings, the Baha'i Calendar signals the beginning
of a new age for Humanity......
" A new life is, in this age,
stirring
within all the peoples of the earth...." Baha'u'llah.
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