Bahá’ís of Tshwane join the Bahá’í communities throughout South Africa to celebrate their New Year on 21 March.
The Bahá’i New Year festival, known as Naw-Ruz, coincides with the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere.
Spring is the time of freshness and renewal. It also serves as a reminder of the oneness of all the Messengers of God, and the spiritual springtime they each brought to humanity.
Naw-Ruz festival also coincides with South Africa’s Human Rights Day.
The concept of human rights is closely related to the principle of oneness of humanity – a basic teaching of the Bahá’í Faith.
The oneness of humanity does not imply uniformity.
The Bahá’í Writings affirm the principle of ‘unity in diversity’. It is the Bahá’í belief that, humanity is one, that the diversity of ethnic backgrounds adds to the beauty and perfection of the whole, and that the day has come for the unification of humanity into one global society.
With unity, a unity that welcomes and honours the full diversity of mankind, the problems which face humanity today can be solved.
In this regard Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, writes: “The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established,“ and “so powerful is the light of unity,” is His further testimony, “that it can illuminate the whole earth”.
The belief and practice of the principle of the oneness of humanity gives rise to an elevated concept of human rights – one that includes the assurance of dignity for each person and the realization of each individual’s potential.
Hence, it is befitting that the Bahá’í New Year coincides with the Human Rights Day, as without belief in the oneness of humanity there will be no rights, no justice and no lasting unity.
The Bahá’í Faith has a new calendar – based on the solar year. The year is divided into nineteen months of nineteen days each month.
Four intercalary days are added (and in the leap years a fifth day) to make up the year. The Bahá’í calendar dates its years from 1844, which marks the beginning of the Bahá’í Era. This year is 176 B.E. (Bahá’í Era).
Despite being the youngest of the world’s independent religions, the Bahá’í Faith, has become the second-most widespread faith in its geographic reach and is among the fastest growing world religions.
Bahá’í beliefs address essential themes such as the oneness of God and oneness of all major world religions, freedom from all types of prejudice, the inherent nobility of the human being, the progressive revelation of religious truth, the crucial need for development of spiritual qualities, the importance of integrating worship and service, the fundamental equality of men and women, the harmony between religion and science, the importance of universal education, and the centrality of justice to all human endeavours.
For feedback please contact: tshwane@bahai.org.za; or call 083-794-0819.
Websites: www.bahai.org, www.bahai.org.za
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