Festival of Ridvan – Apr. 21, 2027

Expected Festival of Ridvan Deals

For the Festival of Ridvan, the focus shifts from commercial deals to spiritual growth and community engagement. Baháʼí communities worldwide organize gatherings for prayer, reflection, and fellowship, especially on the holy first, ninth, and twelfth days. Many individuals engage in acts of service or contribute to charitable causes aligned with the Baháʼí principles of unity and justice. Educational institutions like the Wilmette Institute may offer special courses or resources for deeper study of the faith during this period. The Baháʼí Publishing Trust often highlights relevant texts for personal reflection. We encourage everyone to explore local Baháʼí community events or visit official Baháʼí websites for ways to participate meaningfully.

History of Festival of Ridvan

In 1844, Sayyed ʻAlí Muḥammad Shírází declared himself as The Bab, which means ‘gate’ in Arabic, and he’s known as one of the key individuals of the Baháʼí faith. The Bab’s followers were known as Bábís. In one of Bab’s writings, he predicted that a messiah was coming and his coming had already been announced in different scriptures. The Bab saw himself as the one that was to prepare the way and the minds of the people. He called this concept “He whom God shall make manifest.” His teachings and the Babi movement led to his eventual execution by the Persian rulers in 1850.

In 1853, Baháʼu’lláh, one of the followers of the Bab, was imprisoned in Siyah-Chal in Tehran, Iran. He is said to have gotten the revelation as the promised one while imprisoned. After his release, he was banished from Persia and that is how he settled in Baghdad. Baghdad became the center of the Babis’ activities and the Bábís had already begun to look up to Baháʼu’lláh as their leader and often went to him for guidance since the Bab had been executed.

The Persian government and Islamic clerics increasingly saw the revival of the Babis movement as a threat to them and succeeded in having Baháʼu’lláh summoned to Constantinople. Before he departed to Constantinople, Baháʼu’lláh moved into the Garden of Ridvan to allow him to receive the many visitors coming to pay him respect and to help his family prepare for the trip. He entered the garden on April 22, 1863, and spent 12 days there. It was in the garden he made the declaration of his mission as the promised one the Bab spoke about. What was supposed to be a sad farewell for the Babis turned out to be a celebration of a new faith.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Festival of Ridvan