"The setting of the sun on 20 March 2015 will signalize the end of the year 171, the close of the ninth Váḥid of the first Kull-i-Shay’ of the Bahá’í Era. We call upon the Bahá’ís of the East and West to adopt, on that auspicious occasion, the provisions that will unite them in the common implementation of the Badí‘ calendar...
"The adoption of a new calendar in each dispensation is a symbol of the power of Divine Revelation to reshape human perception of material, social, and spiritual reality. Through it, sacred moments are distinguished, humanity’s place in time and space reimagined, and the rhythm of life recast. Next Naw-Rúz will mark yet another historic step in the manifestation of the unity of the people of Bahá and the unfoldment of Bahá’u’lláh’s World Order."
The full letter can be read HERE. Points summarized from HERE.
- One of the interesting new experiences that Baha'is in the West will have as a result of the adoption of this new calendar is the "Twin Holy Days." The Baha'i Faith has two Founders - the Bab and Baha'u'llah -- whose missions complement each other, whose majestic Shrines now stand in the twin cities of Haifa and Akka in northern Israel, and whose birthdays according to the Islamic lunar calendar fell on consecutive days, but according to the Gregorian calendar were celebrated on October 20 and November 12, respectively. With the implementation of the Badi calendar, these days will now be celebrated as twin holy days, one falling immediately after the other, on 10 and 11 Qudrat (Power) next year in the new calendar.
- Interestingly, even though the Badi calendar and the Gregorian calendar are solar calendars, they may diverge from each other from year to year because the Badi calendar year begins at the moment of the spring equinox as calculated from Tehran, Iran (the birthplace of Baha'u'llah). The spring equinox can shift by a day or so from year to year in relation to the Gregorian calendar.
And so on reading this letter with my husband, we pondered the question. So... how will it change our every day lives? How do we more effectively adopt the implementation of the Badi calendar? Some thoughts below.
- We will have to be much more mindful of the Badi Calendar, because Baha'i events now won't be dictated by the Gregorian Calendar.
- Feast can be prioritized more.
- Time to finally now learn the Baha'i Months... and days of the week.
- To organize another deepening on the Baha'i Calendar
- Making of Baha'i Calendars - so that there will be neat ones that can adorn our walls for the coming year.