Ridván, often called the "Most Great Festival" in the Bahá’í Faith, is a twelve-day period of profound spiritual significance, commemorating the moment in 1863 when Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, publicly declared his mission as a Manifestation of God. The festival begins annually on 21 April and continues through 2 May, with the first, ninth, and twelfth days observed as holy days on which work is suspended. Ridván is not only a remembrance of a historical event, but a celebration of divine revelation, joy, and spiritual renewal.
The festival takes its name from the Garden of Ridván (meaning “Paradise”), located on the banks of the Tigris River near Baghdad. It was here that Bahá’u’lláh stayed for twelve days before his exile to Constantinople, and it was during this time that he shared with a small group of followers that he was the Promised One foretold in the teachings of previous religions. In doing so, he fulfilled messianic expectations while revealing a universal vision of unity, justice, and the oneness of humanity.
Spiritually, Ridván represents the dawn of a new era. It is a celebration of the appearance of divine guidance in a new form, and of humanity’s evolving spiritual journey. Bahá’ís see this period as the sacred time when the “divine springtime” began to blossom—a time of renewal not only for individuals, but for the collective soul of humankind.
The atmosphere of Ridván is one of joy, beauty, and reflection. Bahá’í communities around the world gather in gardens, homes, and community centres to mark the holy days with prayer, music, storytelling, and the reading of Bahá’u’lláh’s writings. There is a strong emphasis on harmony with nature, as the original setting of the festival was filled with roses, nightingales, and flowing water. These elements have become enduring symbols of the spiritual fragrance and melody of the revelation.
One of the key features of Ridván is its role in the administrative life of the Bahá’í community. It is during this time that Bahá’ís elect their local and national governing bodies, the Spiritual Assemblies, through a unique process devoid of campaigning or nomination. This quiet, prayerful approach to governance reflects the spiritual foundations of the Faith and the vision of a society shaped by consultation, humility, and service.
Philosophically, Ridván invites reflection on the nature of divine revelation as progressive and unfolding. Just as spring renews the earth, revelation renews the soul and society. Bahá’u’lláh’s declaration is not seen as a break from previous faiths, but as a continuation—an affirmation that all the world’s religions come from the same source, each offering a chapter in a greater story of spiritual evolution.
Artistically, Ridván has inspired music, poetry, and visual art that evoke its themes of light, growth, and divine love. Floral motifs and garden imagery are especially prominent, drawing on the symbolism of the original garden and the blossoming of spirit that the festival represents.
Ridván is ultimately a celebration of presence and promise. It is the sacred unfolding of a new chapter in humanity’s spiritual story—a time to remember that divine guidance is always near, that unity is possible, and that the soul, like the garden, is made to bloom in light.
