It is thrilling to continue to hear about different initiatives created in honor of the bicentenary of the Birth of the Bab. We were intrigued to learn more about Mulk, a UK-based project that creates apparel inspired by the Bab and His Revelation. We touched base with Mai and Jan, the co-founders of Mulk, to hear more. Here’s what they shared: Continue reading
It’s inspiring to witness a flourishing of initiatives related to the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program, such as the Vancouver, Canada based initiative called Media for Transformation.
Since here at Baha’i Blog, we’re passionate about the subject of media as a means for affecting positive change, we were keen to hear from the team behind this project. Here’s what one team member shared on behalf of everyone involved: Continue reading
I thought it might be helpful to highlight some of the Baha’i-inspired online resources for children that we’ve shared on Baha’i Blog over the years as more and more families around the world isolate themselves indefinitely in their homes.
My go-to media is books, but as postal services are affected by the pandemic, I decided to focus this list on online resources that are immediately accessible. I know that this list isn’t exhaustive and I’d love for you to share some of your favorite resources, or resources you recently found, or you’ve created, in the comments section below. Continue reading
A special edition Badi calendar (or Baha’i calendar) has been created for this year, 177 BE, in celebration of the centenary of the Baha’i Faith in Australia. Featuring historic photographs, this 22-page calendar includes Baha’i Holy Days and 19-Day Feasts from Naw-Ruz 2020 to March 2021.
The photos displayed are from the Australian national Baha’i archives and they highlight the growth of the Baha’i community, including key milestone events.
There are many photographs of Hands of the Cause of God Hyde and Clara Dunn, who traveled to Australia in 1920 to establish Baha’i communities. Continue reading
The heroic life of Tahirih—Fatimih Umm-Salamih (1817- 1852)—has long been celebrated by playwrights, historians and Persian social reformers, especially those advocating women’s rights in present-day Iran. Though a 19th century poet of superb eloquence and variety, she is better known as a woman of dauntless faith, courage and resilience, whether by the Persian community in general or by the followers of the Baha’i religion, for whom she looms as one of the most memorable figures of the Heroic Age of the Baha’i Faith (1844-1921). Continue reading
Navid Lancaster has produced an orchestral album in honor of the bicentenary of the Birth of the Bab, Prophet-herald of the Baha’i Faith. The official website for the bicentenary celebrations around the world, www.bicentenary.bahai.org, gives us glimpses of the diversity of artistic expressions that have flourished from all corners of the planet. We’re also really honoured when people reach out to us and tell us what they’ve been working on such as Navid and his album, The Gate. Here’s what he shared with us: Continue reading
The 2019 European Baha’i Choral Festival was held from May 29 – June 2 at the Baha’i House of Worship in Langenhain, Germany. At this, the second European Baha’i Choral Festival to date, over a hundred participants came together to sing, share music with others and to strengthen the bonds of fellowship and harmony amongst Baha’is and their friends across Europe. Continue reading
Andrea Hope is no stranger to the Baha’i Blog team! In the past, we interviewed her about her spoken word (you can read all about it here). Now she has taken her skills with words to create a book for young children called A is for Allah-u-Abha. Illustrated by Winda Mulyasari, this bright and bold book will help little ones learn spiritual qualities, Baha’i concepts and history such as equality, the Fast, and the station of Abdu’l-Baha as our exemplar.
Andrea lovingly shared how her picture book of poetry came together, the process involved, and what she’s working on now. Here’s our conversation:
I publish under the name Andrea Hope, which is my first and middle name. “Hope” comes from my great-grandmother, Virginia Hope Jones, who was the first Baha’i in our family and my spiritual guide. Growing up, I was always quite empathetic toward the plight of humanity. At age 11, I found my first solace in writing poetry with lines like, “If the world were full of blind men what a beautiful sight it would be … we’d be forced to feel, not see.” I remember wondering as a junior youth, “Why would God put me on this earth if there was nothing I could do about suffering?” The Baha’i Faith both relieved and empowered me. I have been working for some time to combine my passion for the arts and children’s education with the needs of the Faith. This has included developing children’s programs for holy days, organizing a theatre performance of the children’s book Rooth Sees a Trooth, creating Baha’i Holy Day memory cards, writing a poetry activity book called I Am & I Can, and now, publishing the picture book A is for Allah-u-Abha. Continue reading
At Baha’i Blog, we’re huge fans of artistic expressions so we wanted to make sure everyone was aware of the wonderful section on the official bicentenary website dedicated to artistic expressions from around the world in honour of the 200th anniversary of the Birth of the Bab, Prophet-herald of the Baha’i Faith.
From Bolivia to Iraq, and from Singapore to the Netherlands, this website showcases various artistic initiatives and activities created by individuals and communities, and the page is constantly being updated too! Continue reading
The Baha’is of the United Kingdom have created five beautiful exhibition panels designed for use during activities commemorating the bicentenary of the Birth of the Bab, Prophet-Herald of the Baha’i Faith.
The panels offer a historical overview of the Bab’s Revelation, share quotations about His Station, describe His teachings, and offer from excerpts from His Writings. Eye-catching photographs are also included. Continue reading