The Festival of Ridván: What does it mean to me?
Vida Ellins
April 17, 2010
What is it about a Holy Day which distinguishes it from other days? Does it evoke a yearning in us to search for its deeper meaning? Does it have the power to help a divided humanity transcend despair and become united? Is it symbolic of one’s conviction of faith and what it represents?
These questions flooded my mind as I tried to put on paper my thoughts and feelings about the beliefs I identify with, and about the Festival of Ridván, among the holiest days of my religion, the Bahá’í Faith.
In reflecting on the suffering of God’s Messengers during their lifetimes, I’m convinced that they each “derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source,” manifest God’s infinite love and unfold a greater measure of His purpose.
What, then, does this say about the pivotal torch guiding my life?
“The utterance of God is a lamp, whose light is these words: Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony ... So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.” Bahá’u’lláh—founder of the Bahá’í Faith—revealed these words, which I, an Iranian/American Baha’i, along with 6 million other Baha’is throughout the world, adhere to. A source of consolation to me, these words will continue to plant seeds of hope and nurture the soil of our heart until we realize our true potential as God’s noble creatures, and the purpose for which we have been created.
As a child in my native land, I grew up with this image of a unified world, only from a distance and mostly in my dreams, not able to figure out how this vision could someday become a reality. Today, watching the principles of my Faith put into action by many who recognize the essential unity of all religions and the oneness of our human family, I can easily see what that world would look like, even if we are still in its embryonic stage.
As Bahá’u’lláh said: “Let your vision be world embracing, rather than confined to your own self.”
Bahá’u’lláh was exiled from his homeland to Baghdad, then to Constantinople (Istanbul), to Adrianople, and finally to the penal colony of Acre (Akka) in Palestine, often forced to travel on foot and in harsh wintry weather.
In 1863, as he prepared for his departure from Baghdad and separation from his loved ones, Bahá’u’lláh declared his Divine Mission, as the most recent in a line of those who Bahá’ís refer to as Messengers of God that includes Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, Christ, Muhammad and the Bab.
These 12 days, April 21 to May 2, during which Bahá’u’lláh pitched his tent in the garden of Ridván near Baghdad, received visitors, consoled others, and prepared for his exile to Constantinople, has a great significance for me and for my fellow Baha’is throughout the world who have embraced Bahá’u’lláh’s revelation and his vision of a unified humanity.
Vida Ellins is a member of the Eugene Bahá’í community and helped to initiate the monthly Interfaith Reflection gatherings. This column is coordinated by Lane Interfaith Alliance (LIA) to offer inspiration, share personal spiritual experiences and bring a deeper understanding of individual faith perspectives with the intention of blessing our community and the world. For information, visit www.laneinterfaithalliance.org or call 344-0430.