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For the first time, Baha’is around the world will use a new calendar to celebrate the “Twin Birthdays” of their religion’s founders on two consecutive days. These are Baha’i holy days when work is suspended and Baha’i communities hold commemorative events.
Up until now, Baha’is in the West have observed certain holy days according to the solar calendar while Bahá'ís in the East used a lunar calendar. This means that some holy days would be celebrated on different dates depending on where in the world a Baha’i lived. The Baha’i community is now implementing its new “Badi” calendar on a world-wide basis so that they will celebrate the Twin Birthdays on the same dates. A corollary feature of the Badi calendar calls for the day to begin at sunset and end the following sunset. Thus the Twin Birthdays begin at sunset on November 12 and end at sunset on November 14.
The Birth of the Bab November 13 commemorates the 1819 birth in Shiraz, Persia, of Siyyid ‘Ali-Muhammad, who later took the title “the Bab,” meaning “the Gate.” The Bab was the herald who prepared the way for Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith. He called on people to purify themselves for the coming day of God.
The Birth of Baha’u’llah on November 14 commemorates the 1817 birth of Baha’u’llah (born Mirza Husayn-‘Ali) in Núr, Persia. Baha’u’llah means the “Glory of God,” who announced in 1863 that he is God's messenger for this age. His teachings and sacred writings are the basis of the Baha'i Faith, an inclusive monotheistic faith that’s grown to more than five million believers in nearly every country and territory across the globe.
Baha'u'llah proclaimed that God, our loving creator, sends divine messengers or manifestations of God with teachings that enable humanity to know and to worship God. These great manifestations have appeared throughout history every 500 to 1,000 years, bringing human civilization to ever higher levels of spiritual and material advancement. Baha'u'llah is the latest in this long line of divine messengers, which has included Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster and the Bab.
The Bahai Faith offers devotional programs, children’s classes, and study circles for spiritual education for people of all backgrounds. To learn more about the Baha'i Faith in your area and to contact the Bahá'ís, visit www.bahai.us. In the US or www.bahai.org in other parts of the world. Those interested in attending events in Fairfax County East (inside the beltway, below Rt 50 and bordering the county of Arlington and the cities of Falls Church and Alexandria) can visit http://fairfaxeastva.local.bahai.us/content/about-us or write to us at LSAFairfaxEastBahais@gmail.com