BahÃĄâ•Žuâ•ŽllÃĄh and the New Era - Knowledge Rush

FeastsThe essential joyousness of the Bahá’í religion finds expressionin numerous feasts and holidays throughout the year.In a talk on the Feast of Naw-Rúz, in Alexandria, Egypt, in1912, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said:—In the sacred laws of God, in every cycle and dispensationthere are blessed feasts, holidays and workless days.On such days all kinds of occupations, commerce, industry,agriculture, etc., should be suspended.All should rejoice together, hold general meetings, becomeas one assembly, so that the national oneness, unity andharmony may be demonstrated in the eyes of all.As it is a blessed day it should not be neglected, nordeprived of results by making it a day devoted to the pursuitof mere pleasure.During such days institutions should be founded that maybe of permanent benefit and value to the people....Today there is no result or fruit greater than guiding thepeople. Undoubtedly the friends of God, upon such a day,must leave tangible philanthropic or ideal traces that shouldreach all mankind and not pertain only to the Bahá’ís. Inthis wonderful dispensation, philanthropic affairs are for allhumanity without exception, because it is the manifestationof the mercifulness of God. Therefore, my hope is that thefriends of God, every one of them, may become as the mercyof God to all mankind.The Feasts of Naw-Rúz (New Year) and Ridván, the Anniversariesof the Birth of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh, and of theBáb’s Declaration (which is also the birthday of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá)are the great joy-days of the year for Bahá’ís. In Persia they