The Universal House of Justice has released a tribute to Abdu’l-Baha on the occasion of the centenary commemoration of His Ascension. Continue reading
The Universal House of Justice has released a letter to the friends gathered in the Holy Land to mark the centenary commemoration of the Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha. Continue reading
The Universal House of Justice has commissioned a feature film for commemorations of the centenary of the Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha, the Son of Baha’u’llah, Prophet-herald of the Baha’i Faith. This wonderful film, titled Exemplar, offers a portrait of the Person of Abdu’l-Baha. Continue reading
As this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Passing of Abdu’l-Baha, a number of friends have asked me where they can find high-quality images of Abdu’l-Baha that they can use legally (without copyright restrictions) for their commemorations and activities. Continue reading
A new website dedicated to the commemoration of the centenary of the Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha has recently been launched by the Office of External Affairs of the Baha’is of Australia. As this year marks the 100th anniversary of the passing of Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’is in Australia and around the world are commemorating this historic occasion in various ways, and this new website aims to showcase how Australian Baha’is and their friends are marking this period. Continue reading
The gardens surrounding the Shrines of the Bab and Baha’u’llah in Israel are open to the public at designated times and they are visited by more than one million guests every year! In 2008, these unique structures and gardens were inscribed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List in recognition of their “outstanding universal value” as holy places and places of pilgrimage for followers of the Baha’i Faith.
As a precautionary measure and in compliance with health regulations regarding the coronavirus, the Shrines and their surrounding gardens have been closed. However, www.ganbahai.org.il, which is the official public website for visitor information to these holy places has just launched a new gallery of images and videos, including historical ones, so you can visit these special places from home. You can see them all here: http://gallery.ganbahai.org.il/
On a hot April day in 1863 on the outskirts of Baghdad, Baha’u’llah entered the Najibiyyih Garden on the banks of the Tigris River. He spent the following twelve days accepting visitors for the last time before His departure to Constantinople. As this place was blessed with His presence, Baha’is now refer to it as the Ridvan (Paradise) Garden and commemorating these special 12 days is known as the Festival of Ridvan. Continue reading
We’ve seen a diverse flourishing of online Baha’i-inspired initiatives in recent days and weeks as more and more people self-isolate due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As Baha’is and their friends around the world celebrate the 12 days of Ridvan in creative ways that are in keeping with the recommendations of health authorities, we’re especially excited to share two awesome initiatives which are taking place each of the 12 days of Ridvan to celebrate the whole Festival online. Continue reading
Alhan Rahimi, who you may remember from her children’s book about the Declaration of the Bab or her book about the Birth of the Bab, has just released a new work for little ones related to Baha’i history and its holy days. Her latest book, illustrated by Alina Onipchenko, is called Garden of Ridvan: The Story of the Festival of Ridvan for Young Children and it’s a fantastic resource.
Told from the perspective of one of the garden’s nightingales, this book features soft colorful images and repetition. Written with children around 5 years old or younger in mind, this book is sure to help foster an understanding of the beauty and significance of the Festival of Ridvan. Continue reading
I have never personally met Elaheh Bos but I am so grateful for the materials and resources she creates and produces for children. Her latest: a story book, During Ayyam-i-Ha: How We Celebrate, and an activity book, Ayyam-i-Ha Crafts. (Not sure what Ayyam-i-Ha is? Here’s a Baha’i Blog article called “An Introduction to Ayyam-i-Ha” that might help!)
With the multiple-day Baha’i festival just around the corner, I am thrilled Elaheh was able to share a little bit about her new books. Here’s what she said: Continue reading