Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Holy Days’ Category

Celebration of Twin Holy Birthdays

Posted in Devotionals, Holy Days, tagged , , , on November 4, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Members of the Bahá’í community of the Royal Borough celebrated two special Holy Days at the weekend: the Anniversary of the Birth of the Báb, which started this year at sunset on Friday evening, and the Anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, which started at sunset on Saturday evening.

In the middle of the 19th century a young merchant announced that He was the bearer of a message destined to transform the life of humanity. At a time when His country, Iran, was undergoing widespread moral breakdown, His message aroused excitement and hope among all classes, rapidly attracting thousands of followers. He took the name “The Báb”, meaning “the Gate” in Arabic.

With His call for spiritual and moral reformation, and His attention to improving the position of women and the lot of the poor, the Báb’s prescription for spiritual renewal was revolutionary. At the same time, He founded a distinct, independent religion of His own, inspiring His followers to transform their lives and carry out great acts of heroism.

The Báb announced that humanity stood at the threshold of a new era. His mission, which was to last only six years, was to prepare the way for the coming of a Manifestation of God Who would usher in the age of peace and justice promised in all the world’s religions: Bahá’u’lláh.

In a congratulatory letter to mark the Twin Holy Days, the Mayor of the Royal Borough, Councillor Simon Bond, conveyed his best wishes to the Bahá’í community.

Devotional gathering for prayers and readings, followed by celebration dinner
Visit to the Resting Place of Shoghi Effendi, a Bahá’í sacred place in London
Interfaith in the neighbourhood. A children’s card, to be given to Hindu neighbours, marks the coincidence this year of the Twin Holy Days with Diwali, and connects the Festival of Light with a passage from the Bahá’í Writings: “Light is good in whatsoever lamp it is burning.”

Say: This is the Dawn whereat the Most Great Tree was planted and bore its exalted and peerless fruits.  By the righteousness of God!  Within each fruit of this Tree there repose the seeds of a myriad melodies…  All glory be to this Dawn, through which the divine Luminaries have shone forth above the horizon of sanctity by the leave of God, the Almighty, the Inaccessible, the Most High!

Bahá’u’lláh

Read Full Post »

Celebrating The Birth of Baha’u’llah

Posted in Holy Days, tagged , on October 29, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Bahá’ís from across the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, and their friends, gathered on Thursday 27th October for a Holy Day celebration to mark the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh. A programme of prayers, readings and music was followed by a Pot Luck lunch.

The meeting opened with the reading of a message from the Mayor of the Royal Borough, Mrs Christine Bateson, conveying her good wishes for the Holy Day celebration.

The Birth of Bahá’u’lláh is one of eleven Bahá’í Holy Days throughout the year. Bahá’u’lláh was born in Persia (now Iran) in 1817. The story of the life of Bahá’u’lláh is told here.

Bahá’ís believe that every time a Manifestation of God appears, a fuller measure of inspiration for the next stage in the awakening and progress of humanity is released into the world. A human being—ordinary in every outward respect—is called to be a mouthpiece for God. One may call to mind Moses standing before the Burning Bush, the Buddha receiving enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus in the form of a dove, or the archangel Gabriel appearing to Muḥammad.

In the middle of the 19th century, God summoned Bahá’u’lláh—meaning the “Glory of God”—to deliver a new Revelation to humanity. For four decades thousands of verses, letters and books flowed from His pen. In His Writings, He outlined a framework for the development of a global civilization which takes into account both the spiritual and material dimensions of human life.

I have never aspired after worldly leadership. My sole purpose hath been to hand down unto men that which I was bidden to deliver by God…

– Bahá’u’lláh

Bahá’u’lláh suffered 40 years of imprisonment, torture and exile for bringing God’s latest message to humanity. Today, His life and mission are becoming increasingly well-known across the planet. Millions of people are learning to apply His teachings to their individual and collective lives for the betterment of the world.

Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings…now present us with the highest and purest form of religious teaching…

– Count Leo Tolstoy

For more on the life of Bahá’u’lláh and His teachings, please visit the official website of the worldwide Bahá’í community: www.bahai.org

Read Full Post »

A Very Special Anniversary

Posted in Devotionals, Holy Days, tagged , on November 26, 2021| Leave a Comment »

‘Abdu’l-Bahá in New Hampshire, USA – July 1912

This evening, in collaboration with neighbouring Bahá’í communities, the Bahá’í community of Maidenhead hosts a very special online gathering, a commemoration of the passing one hundred years ago of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the eldest son of Bahá’u’lláh and His appointed successor.

The life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (1844-1921), and in particular his unremitting service to humanity, has been remembered this year by Bahá’í communities around the world – from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Panama, from Alaska to Cambodia – through specially commissioned films, documentaries, exhibitions, podcasts, essays, books, songs and dramatic works.

In the Holy Land, recent special events in Haifa and ‘Akká have welcomed municipal officials, residents and faith representatives to mark the the ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at historic sites associated with Him. The funeral of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on 29 November 1921 was attended by some ten thousand mourners representing every class, religion and race, with tributes and eulogies from all quarters.

Bahá’í representatives from across the world attending a commemoration and conference in the Holy Land

In the Holy Land, Bahá’í representatives from the nations and regions of the world have gathered this week to attend a commemoration and conference.

In the United Kingdom, a parliamentary reception was hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Bahá’í Faith at Portcullis House, Westminster. More than 80 guests attended including Members of Parliament, and representatives of religious communities and non-governmental organisations. Guests were welcomed by Martin Vickers, MP for Cleethorpes, followed by an address by the Minister of State for Levelling Up Communities Kemi Badenoch, MP for Saffron Walden. The event was closed by Ruth Jones, MP for Newport West.

UK Parliamentary Reception

One of the many UK initiatives to mark the occasion has been a series of films with stories of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to the UK illustrating Bahá’í principles – told by children and junior youth and released on YouTube.

Read Full Post »

Bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb

Posted in Holy Days, tagged , on September 20, 2019| Leave a Comment »

1879540-masterBahá’ís in Maidenhead and across the Thames Valley are joining with others around the world to celebrate the 200th anniversary next month of the birth of the Báb, the Herald of the Bahá’í Faith.

In countless settings and places throughout the world, people are marking the bicentenary of the birth of the Báb, Whose revitalizing message prepared the way for the coming of Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith.

Bahá’ís in this part of the Thames Valley have arranged a series of evenings – in High Wycombe, Marlow, Burnham and Maidenhead – to show a film specially commissioned for the bicentenary. Titled Dawn of the Light, the 45-minute film follows Bahá’ís from different continents as they relate their own personal journeys of search and their discovery that God has sent two Divine Manifestations in this Day.

These evenings are open to all. For further details, please refer to this invitation (pdf format): 2019-10 Bicentenary of Bab – Invitation – Final

To find out more about bicentenary events worldwide, please visit the special Bicentenary 2019 website.

Colombia

A celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh in October 2017 in the town of Tuchín, Colombia, reflects the rich artistic culture of the Córdoba region

original

A group performs traditional Japanese drumming as part of a celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh in October 2017

Read Full Post »

Bicentenary of the Birth of Baha’u’llah

Posted in Holy Days, tagged , on September 17, 2017| Leave a Comment »

On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh, the Bahá’í community of Maidenhead is hosting a series of gatherings to celebrate His life.

20375620_877988782365733_5265783257453081030_nThe gatherings will open with a short devotional of prayers and readings followed by the showing of a film Light to the World commissioned for the bicentenary. The film tells the story of the life of Bahá’u’lláh and the impact of His teachings in transforming the lives of individuals and communities across the planet.

These Thursday evening gatherings, which will take place in November, are open to all.  They will be hosted in a home, so places are limited. If you would like to attend, please contact Mike Gammage, Secretary, for further details: by email bahaismaidenhead@gmail.com or by phone 01628 637801.

Read Full Post »