Holy Days & Feast Dates
4 January 2021
7 Sharaf 177 B.E.
Contents:
– Holy Days and Feast dates
– Office of Public Affairs: 2020 in review – A year of change
– BWNS: 2020 in review – A year without precedent
– BWNS: 2020 in photos – A year of solidarity and intense endeavour
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To all believers in the United Kingdom
Dearly loved Friends,
The National Spiritual Assembly is pleased to provide you with information concerning the significant dates in the Bahá’í calendar until Naw-Rúz 179 B.E. in 2022.
Ayyám-i-Há this year runs from 25–28 February 2021. The fasting month begins immediately after Ayyám-i-Há, at sunset on 28 February 2021, and ends at Naw-Rúz 178 B.E. (sunset on 19 March 2021). The Holy Days for next year are stated below, with commemoration times added where relevant. The times have been adjusted to accommodate British summer time.
Holy Days on which work is suspended:
- Naw-Rúz on 20 March 2021 (1 Bahá)
- First Day of Riḍván on 20 April 2021 (13 Jalál), at about 4 p.m.
- Ninth Day of Riḍván on 28 April 2021 (2 Jamál)
- Twelfth Day of Riḍván on 1 May 2021 (5 Jamál)
- Declaration of the Báb on 23 May 2021 (8 ‘Aẓamat), which is commemorated at about two hours after sunset on 22 May
- Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh on 28 May 2021 (13 ‘Aẓamat), at 4 a.m.
- Martyrdom of the Báb on 9 July 2021 (17 Raḥmat), at about 1 p.m.
- Birth of the Báb on 6 November 2021 (4 Qudrat)
- Birth of Bahá’u’lláh on 7 November 2021 (5 Qudrat)
The commemoration times listed above should be observed, if feasible. Where no times are specified, the believers are free to gather at any time during the day that they find convenient.
Work is not suspended on the following Holy Days,
- Day of the Covenant on 25 November 2021 (4 Qawl)
- Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on 27 November 2021 (6 Qawl), at 1 a.m.
However, as the friends are aware, the entire Bahá’í world will this year be marking the centenary of the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the completion of the first century of the Formative Age. In its message to the Bahá’ís of the World of 25 November 2020, the Universal House of Justice called for the coming year to be a period of “profound reflection on the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the strength of the Covenant of which He was the Centre…The observance of this anniversary will undoubtedly prompt individuals and communities alike to contemplate the significance of that infinitely poignant moment when He Who was the Mystery of God departed from this world.” The Day of the Covenant will also “be especially meaningful.” As requested by the House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assembly is presently determining how these two dates, occurring so close together, may be appropriately observed.
The Feast days, ideally celebrated on the first day of the month, correspond with the following dates:
- Bahá (Splendour) – 20 March 2021
- Jalál (Glory) – 8 April 2021
- Jamál (Beauty) – 27 April 2021
- ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur) – 16 May 2021
- Núr (Light) – 4 June 2021
- Raḥmat (Mercy) – 23 June 2021
- Kalimát (Words) – 12 July 2021
- Kamál (Perfection) – 31 July 2021
- Asmá’ (Names) – 19 August 2021
- ‘Izzat (Might) – 7 September 2021
- Mashíyyat (Will) – 26 September 2021
- ‘Ilm (Knowledge) – 15 October 2021
- Qudrat (Power) – 3 November 2021
- Qawl (Speech) – 22 November 2021
- Masá’il (Questions) – 11 December 2021
- Sharaf (Honour) – 30 December 2021
- Sulṭán (Sovereignty) – 18 January 2022
- Mulk (Dominion) – 6 February 2022
- Ayyám-i-Há – 25 February–1 March 2022
- ‘Alá’ (Loftiness) – 2 March 2022
As always, the Bahá’í day runs from sunset till sunset. Thus every day listed above begins from the time of sunset on the evening prior to the Gregorian date that is stated.
We hope the above information will be of assistance to you. For further information and guidance about Bahá’í Holy Days, please see these guidance notes which have been prepared on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
Patrick O’Mara,
Secretary
Office of Public Affairs: 2020 in review – a year of change
2020 was a year of unprecedented change and transformation. In starting to navigate a new reality, the Office of Public Affairs, with its friends and colleagues, began to identify new and constructive themes opening up in society, as well as deepening its understanding of, and contribution to, the discourses in UK society already being followed.
Read more and watch video here >
