Enjoying Spring weather together in Barton Park between the two black tupelo trees the community donated to Arlington County for the Bicentennial of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh last year, several children and adults gathered on April 21 for fellowship, prayers, songs and refreshments to celebrate the holiest season of the Bahá’í calendar.
The Festival of Ridván is a 12-day period commemorating the announcement in 1863 by Bahá’u’lláh that He is the Manifestation of God for this period of human history. To accommodate the large numbers of people who wished to visit Bahá’u’lláh when He made His public declaration, He asked that tents be pitched to welcome the throngs. Arlington children created their own “tent” to honor the occasion.