The Most Great Festival — Bahá'í Aotearoa

The Most Great Festival of Riḍván marks the momentous occasion when Bahá’u’lláh publicly declared His Divine Mission in 1863, in the Najíbíyyih Garden in Baghdad, Iraq. It is a time to reflect on His teachings and His vision of unity, peace, and justice for all humanity.

This year, the twelve days of the Riḍván Festival will be celebrated from 13 Jalál (sunset on Saturday 19 April) through 5 Jamál (sunset on Thursday 1 May). It is a time for the lovers of Bahá’u’lláh to come together in joyful celebration, honouring His Declaration as the Promised One of all religions and the bearer of a new Revelation for the modern world. During this special festival, we are encouraged to share in the festivities, welcoming others into the circle of celebration, and sharing the message of Bahá’u’lláh’s greatness and vision.

The 1st, 9th, and 12th days of Riḍván are designated as Holy Days by Bahá’u’lláh. On these days, work and school should be suspended, and Bahá’í-owned businesses should close. The first day of Riḍván is celebrated on Sunday 20 April, at 3:00 pm. The Ninth Day will be observed from sunset on 27 April to sunset on 28 April, and the Twelfth Day will be celebrated from sunset on 30 April to sunset on 1 May.

“Verily I say, this is the Day in which mankind can behold the Face, and hear the Voice, of the Promised One. The Call of God hath been raised, and the light of His countenance hath been lifted up upon men. It behooveth every man to blot out the trace of every idle word from the tablet of his heart, and to gaze, with an open and unbiased mind, on the signs of His Revelation, the proofs of His Mission, and the tokens of His glory.
“Great indeed is this Day! The allusions made to it in all the sacred Scriptures as the Day of God attest its greatness. The soul of every Prophet of God, of every Divine Messenger, hath thirsted for this wondrous Day. All the divers kindreds of the earth have, likewise, yearned to attain it. No sooner, however, had the Daystar of His Revelation manifested itself in the heaven of God’s Will, than all, except those whom the Almighty was pleased to guide, were found dumbfounded and heedless.
“O thou that hast remembered Me! The most grievous veil hath shut out the peoples of the earth from His glory, and hindered them from hearkening to His call. God grant that the light of unity may envelop the whole earth, and that the seal, ‘the Kingdom is God’s’, may be stamped upon the brow of all its peoples.”
Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

“Say: The Most Great Festival is, indeed, the King of Festivals. Call ye to mind, O people, the bounty which God hath conferred upon you. Ye were sunk in slumber, and lo! He aroused you by the reviving breezes of His Revelation, and made known unto you His manifest and undeviating Path.”
Bahá’u’lláh - The Kitáb-i-Aqdas

“By God! This is the festival wherein the beauty of the Unknowable Essence hath appeared unveiled and arrayed with such sovereignty as to lay low the necks of them that have repudiated His truth. All hail then to this, the Festival of the Lord, that hath appeared with supreme dominion!
“This is a festival wherein all things have been absolved by virtue of the appearance of Him Who is the Ancient King from behind the veil of names. Wherefore, rejoice in your hearts, O peoples of the world, for the breezes of forgiveness have been wafted over the entire creation and the spirit of life hath been breathed into the world. All hail then to this, the Festival of the Lord, that hath appeared above a dayspring of resplendent holiness!”
Bahá’u’lláh - Days of Remembrance

Sharing the story of Riḍván with children

As we will celebrate the Most Great Festival of Riḍván in the coming days, it is a wonderful time to share the story of Bahá’u’lláh's Declaration with the younger generation. The following creative video by believers in Christchurch introduces children to the story of Bahá’u’lláh and His Declaration, and the importance of Riḍván.

This video and many other resources are available to help bring the joy and significance of this special festival to life for the children in your lives.