First Day of Riḍván

Culture of origin: Bahá’í · Cultural

Holiday sources: Bahá'í Faith · Iran

The First Day of Riḍván opens the twelve-day Festival of Riḍván, which Bahá'u'lláh named one of the two Most Great Festivals. On 22 April 1863, about to be sent from Baghdad to Constantinople, he moved into the Najibiyyih garden across the Tigris, later called Riḍván, and announced his mission to a small group of family and friends. The day is observed in the afternoon, about 3 p.m., and work is suspended.