The Bahá’í New Year festival known as Naw-Rúz (literally “New Day”) is held on the spring equinox, March 20, 2017, but the celebrations will begin the evening before, on March 19, because the Bahá’í day begins at sunset.
The Bahá’í community in Arlington, Virginia, will observe the Holy Day at a gathering at Bon Air Park for prayers, songs, sharing and food – the morning of Monday, March 20.
The festival comes at the end of a 19-day fast in which adult Bahá’ís have abstained from food and drink between sunrise and sunset as a reminder of the need for individuals to be detached from their material desires.
Naw-Rúz is the first day of the first of 19 months in the Bahá’í calendar, which was initiated by the Báb, the Forerunner of the Faith’s Prophet-Founder, Bahá’u’lláh, who later confirmed it.
To learn more about Naw-Rúz, click here. To contact the Baha’i community in Arlington, click above.