The Baha’i Temple in Norte del Cauca, Colombia: A Roundup of Resources

The Baha’i House of Worship in Norte del Cauca, Colombia has recently opened its doors to all, and in this spirit of celebration, we wanted to share some of the posts and resources relating to this unique edifice. We’ve listed things to read, watch, listen to, and study, so in case you missed them, here are a number of materials about this newly dedicated Baha’i temple:

1. Letter from the Universal House of Justice for the Dedication of the Colombia Temple

The Universal House of Justice has written a letter for the momentous occasion of the dedication of the House of Worship in Norte del Cauca, Colombia. The letter powerfully describes what the edifice signifies and what its construction demonstrates in terms of the development of its communities. You can read it on the official website of the Universal House of Justice.

2. “Colombia Temple dedicated in joyful ceremony” (NEWS)

The Baha’i World News Service covered the inauguration of the Baha’i House of Worship in this news story. Filled with captivating images and descriptions of the dedication ceremonies, this article gives you a sense of what it felt like to participate in this historic event.

3. Dedication of the Baha’i Temple in Norte del Cauca, Colombia (VIDEO)

This eight minute video shares some highlights from the dedication ceremony of the Temple. Greetings from the authorities of Villa Rica, talks, music and traditional dances were all a part of the dedication event that gave way to groups visiting the House of Worship in a spirit of reverence and deep joy. The Inauguration of the House of Worship marks a new stage in the development of Baha’i Faith in Colombia. (*NOTE: Click on the “cc” button for English subtitles.)

4. La cumbia del jardinero: A Song from the Dedication of the Baha’i Temple in Colombia (MUSIC)

“La cumbia del jardinero” is a song that was performed at the dedication of the Baha’i House of Worship in Norte del Cauca, Colombia. It uses the metaphor of a gardener to describe the process of spiritual education, which has been an important feature of the development of vibrant communities in the area. The song describes how the world is like a forest, and gardeners work to expose the sun’s rays to the smallest of plants, allowing them to grow and share their fruits of love and unity with the world.

5. 19 Images of the Baha’i Temple in Norte del Cauca, Colombia

This Baha’i temple, also known as a House of Worship, is the world’s second local Baha’i House of Worship, and to celebrate its inauguration we’ve decided to share a collection of 19 sweeping and intimate photos of the temple and some of the guests at its dedication found on Instagram.

6. Aerial Views of the Baha’i Temple in Norte del Cauca, Colombia (VIDEO)

In this short video, you can see the sweeping majesty and brilliance of the Temple, both during the day and in the evening, and this beauty mirrors the spiritual growth of nearby communities.

7. Baha’i Temple in Norte del Cauca, Colombia Dedication Press Conference

In this short video you can see highlights of the Press Conference held for the upcoming Dedication of the Baha’i House of Worship in Norte del Cauca, Colombia.

8. Preparation of the Dedication of the Baha’i Temple in Norte del Cauca, Colombia

This video captures some of the preparations for the dedication of the Baha’i House of Worship in Norte del Cauca, Colombia that were underway; more than 1,000 guests from across the country were expected for the ceremony. This video also highlights the beautiful central edifice of the Temple, its surrounding buildings, and an emerging native forest.

Other Resources

And that concludes our list! If you’ve gotten this far but are still curious about what a Baha’i Temple, or House of Worship is and what it signifies, we have a short article on that subject right here on Baha’i Blog. You can also read about its significance here on Bahai.org.

The Research Department at the Baha’i World Centre also put together a new compilation, titled The Institution of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar (“Mashriqu’l-Adhkar” means “dawning place of the praise of God”). This compilation includes a statement, as well as quotations from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, Abdu’l-Baha, and Shoghi Effendi and excerpts from letters written by the Universal House of Justice. The book can be read online here or purchased from Palabra Publications here.

And finally, want to see how much you know about Baha’i Houses of Worship? Try Baha’i Blog’s House of Worship Quiz here.

We hope you’ve found this list both informative and inspiring as the world welcomes yet another Baha’i House of Worship!

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Sonjel Vreeland

In her innermost heart, Sonjel is a stay-at-home parent and a bookworm with a maxed out library card but professionally she is a museologist with a background in English Literature. She currently lives on Prince Edward Island, an isle in the shape of a smile on the eastern Canadian coast. Sonjel is a writer who loves to listen to jazz when she's driving at night.