Over 5 million Bahá’ís around the world are preparing for the bicentenary celebrations of the births of Bahá’u’lláh (2017) and the Báb (2019). Communities are planning local festivities designed to share and exemplify Bahá’u’lláh’s global message of world unity with their friends and neighbors.
This year the Festival includes the of Birth of the Báb which will be celebrated on Friday, October 20th, and culminates with the celebration of 200th Birthday of Bahá’u’lláh on Sunday, October 22, 2017. Other events will be taking place in numerous neighborhoods throughout the San Gabriel Valley.
Who is Bahá’u’lláh?
Two hundred years ago, in the autumn of 1817, a child was born in Persia who would come to be known as Bahá’u’lláh, the bearer of a new message from God that calls on all the peoples on the earth to recognize their common humanity in a world that is rapidly shrinking.
Bahá’u’lláh’s coming was heralded by the Báb (1819-1850), meaning “the Gate”. The Báb declared His Divine Mission in 1844, which is considered the beginning of the Bahá’í Era – a new cycle of human history and social evolution.
In His Writings, Bahá’u’llá outlines a framework for the development of a global civilization, which takes into account both the spiritual and material dimensions of human life. His teachings, centered around the recognition of the oneness of humanity, offer a compelling vision of a future world united in justice, peace, and propserity.
Bahá’u’lláh’s Principle Teachings are the Oneness of God, Oneness of Man, and One Unfolding Religion, principles that permeate His Writings, such as:
“Ye are the fruits of one tree, and leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship…” – Bahá’u’lláh
“This is the changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future.” – Bahá’u’lláh
“So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole world.” – Bahá’u’lláh
