What is Ridván?
The Ridván Festival is celebrated from sunset 20 April to sunset 2 May.
The festival marks Bahá'u'lláh's time in the garden of Ridván in 1863 and his announcement that he was the prophet promised by the Báb. Bahá'u'lláh ordained this festival 'Most Great Festival'.
The 1st, 9th and 12th days are especially holy days. They commemorate the arrival of Bahá'u'lláh at the Ridván Garden, the arrival of his family and his departure.
These three holy days are marked by communal prayers and celebrations, and are days on which no work is done.
Since Abdu'l-Bahá's time, Bahá'í elections have normally been held during Ridván. Local spiritual assemblies are elected on the first day of Ridván, while elections for national spiritual assemblies happen later in the festival.
Say: The Most Great Festival is, indeed, the King of Festivals.
Call ye to mind, O people, the bounty which God hath conferred upon you.
Ye were sunk in slumber, and lo!
He aroused you by the reviving breezes of His Revelation, and made known unto you His manifest and undeviating Path.
-- Bahá'u'lláh, The Kitab-i-Aqdas --
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