A belated Ridvan
Alright, so we’re a little late with the Ridvan post. Sorry about that. To make up for it we give you this article from the Virgin Islands Daily News:
The Baha’is of the Virgin Islands celebrate the annual Festival of Ridvan (pronounced Rizwan) for 12 days from April 21 to May 2.
“Ridvan” means “paradise.” From April 21 to May 2, 1863, Baha’u'llah, the prophet-founder of the Baha’i faith, resided in a garden of Baghdad that he called “the Garden of Ridvan.” There, Baha’u'llah publicly proclaimed his mission as God’s messenger for this age. At the time of his proclamation, Baha’u'llah was an exile in Baghdad, banished from his native Persia because of his teachings.
The Festival of Ridvan is celebrated by Baha’is throughout the world. During the 12-day period, there are social gatherings, devotional services and elections of local and national Baha’i administrative bodies. The administration of the faith is run at the local, national and international levels by nine people. All adult Baha’is are able to vote in local elections.