The Baha'i Community of Arlington, Virginia » Holy Days

Arlington Baha’is to celebrate Naw-ruz on March 21st

krishna — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:20:39 +0000

For Baha’is, Naw-ruz, the Baha’i New Year comes at a perfect time — March 21 — the vernal equinox, which marks the first day of spring and the end of the Baha’i Faith’s annual Nineteen Day Fast. Called Naw Ruz – “new day” in Persian, the Baha’i New Year has its roots in Persia, where the Baha’i Faith originated in the mid-1800s.

The Arlington Baha’i community will come together to celebrate Naw-ruz, the Baha’i new year, on March 21st at 7 p.m..

Baha’u'llah, the prophet-founder of the Baha’i Faith wrote of Naw-ruz, “Praised be Thou, O my God, that Thou hast ordained Naw-Ruz as a festival unto those who have observed the Fast for love of Thee and abstained from all that is abhorrent unto thee…”

For more information, please contact us via the link above.

Arlington Baha’is to hold Ayyam-i-Ha Celebration on February 27

krishna — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:17:20 +0000

Ayyam-i-Ha, or Intercalary Days, is the time between the Baha’i month of Mulk (February 7 – February 25) and the month of Ala (March 2 – March 20). As the Baha’i calendar consists of the 19 months with 19 days each, the intercalary days provide an extra four days (or five in leap years) to complete the solar cycle.

During Ayyam-i-Ha, Baha’is strive to show extra love, fellowship, and charity. Ayyam-i-Ha is also a time when Baha’is give and receive gifts, particularly to children.

Baha’u'llah has said of Ayyam-i-Ha:

“It behoveth the people of Baha, throughout these days, to provide good cheer for themselves, their kindred and, beyond them, the poor and needy, and with joy and exultation to hail and glorify their Lord, to sing His praise and magnify His Name.”

This year, the Arlington Baha’is will celebrate Ayyam-i-Ha at 6 p.m. on Sunday, February 27th. For more information, please call (703) 679-7554.

Arlington Baha’is Greet Naw-Ruz

admin — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 02:39:36 +0000

The Baha’i New Year festival known as Naw-Ruz (literally “New Day”) is held on the spring equinox, March 21, but the celebrations will begin the evening before because the Baha’i day begins at sunset.

The Baha’i community in Arlington, Virginia, will observe the Holy Day with a Feast – a gathering for prayers, songs, sharing and food – the evening of Saturday, March 20.

The festival comes at the end of a 19-day fast in which adult Baha’is abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset as a reminder of the need for individuals to be detached from their material desires.

Naw-Ruz is the first day of the first of 19 months in the Baha’i calendar, which was initiated by the Bab, the Forerunner of the Faith’s Prophet-Founder, Baha’u'llah, who later confirmed it.

Learn more about Naw-Ruz, click here. To contact the Baha’i community in Arlington, click Contact above.

Martyrdom of The Báb

admin — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:35:14 +0000

On July 9 every year, Bahá’ís commemorate the day when the Báb was martyred. The Báb, which is Arabic for the “Gate,” was the title taken by Muhammad-’Alí, who announced in Shiraz in 1844 that He was the promised one whom the Holy Books of the past had foretold. The Báb had a twofold purpose. His primary mission was to prepare the world for the imminent arrival of another Divine Messenger. (Bahá’u’lláh, announced in April 1863 that He was the Divine Messenger the Báb had promised.) Yet He also brought His own independent, distinctive religion, the Bábi Faith. In carrying out this mission He called for the spiritual and moral reformation of Persian society, as well as championed improved treatment of women and the poor.

The religious and political leaders of the day arose to oppose and to persecute the Báb and His followers. The Báb’s ministry lasted 6 years. Yet during that time, around than 20,000 of His followers were killed. Then, although guilty of no crime, on July 9, 1850 at 12:00 noon He was executed by firing squad. You can read more about the stunning events of this day here. It is tragic that more than 160 years later Bahá’ís are still being persecuted and threatened with death in Iran.

The Arlington Baha’i Community will commemorate the Martyrdom of The Báb on Thursday, July 9, at Bon Air Park located at 850 N. Lexington St., Arlington, VA 22205. Everyone is welcome to join us in commemorating this Holy day. We will meet in the rose garden or the covered pavilion in the event of rain. We will begin with prayers at 11:30am. Light refreshments will be served. You are welcome to just show up, but if you need a ride or have any questions please contact us.

Commemoration of the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh

admin — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:07:40 +0000

Friday, May 29, 2009 is a Holy Day for Bahá’ís. Early in the morning of May 29, 1892, Bahá’u’lláh passed away in Bahji, just north of Acre in what is today Israel. Bahá’u’lláh was laid to rest on this same property, and his gravesite constitutes the holiest place in the world for all Bahá’ís.

At time of His death, He was 74 years old and was still a prisoner of the Turkish government. He was exiled and imprisoned for His teachings of love and unity towards all mankind. In His own words He stated:

“That which the Lord hath ordained as the sovereign remedy and mightiest instrument for the healing of all the world is the union of all its peoples in one universal Cause, one common Faith.”

All over the world Bahá’ís will be gathering in the early hours of May 29th to say prayers to commemorate the Anniversary of His passing. Here in Arlington we will get together Thursday evening (May 28th) at 10 pm for fellowship, refreshments and to reflect on His life. We will be showing a selection of movies such as “The Promise of All Ages” – a documentary about the life of Bahá’u’lláh and “Pilgrimage: A Sacred Experience” – a beautiful video meditation on the sacred experience of Bahá’í pilgrimage. We will continue with a devotional program of Holy Writings, Prayers and Sacred Songs starting at 3 am and culminating with the reading of the Tablet of Visitation at 4 am early Friday morning. If you are interested in joining us in Arlington please contact us.