Mat-Su Valley Baha’is celebrate Naw-Rúz, the Baha’i New Year.

Baha’is around the valley tuned in to a local zoom meeting to commemorate the Baha’i New year, a Holy Day occurring on the vernal equinox, this year the evening of March 19. This is year 178 of the Baha’i Era, dated from 1844, the year in which the Bab began teaching and preparing the people for the coming of Baha’u’llah, Founder of the Baha’i Faith and God’s Educator for a new age of humanity. The Baha’i new year is called Naw-Rúz, which literally means, “New Day” in Persian, the language of Iran where the Baha’i Faith has its roots. Like the ancient Persian new year, the Baha’i new year occurs on the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

Naw-Rúz is one of nine Holy Days observed throughout the year by Baha’is, days on which work and school are suspended. The Baha’i calendar has nineteen months of nineteen days each, leaving either four or five days depending on whether it is a leap year, which are known as Ayyam-i-Ha or Intercalary days.

The Baha’i month leading up to Naw-Rúz is a month of daytime fasting, used as a time of introspection and prayer. Baha’is rise before the sun to eat breakfast and pray. They break the day’s fast in the evening after sunset. The Fast offers both a physical and spiritual preparation for spring and renewal. Naw-Rúz marks the end of the Fast and is often celebrated with an especially festive meal.

The Mat-Su Naw-Rúz celebration began with prayers and music, included a short play on the importance of obedience to God’s commandments, and concluded with an enjoyable game. The prayer for Naw-Rúz, written by Bahá’u’lláh, was read, and begins with “Praised be Thou, O my God, that Thou hast ordained Naw-Rúz as a festival unto those who have observed the fast for love of Thee…”. Music from Grant Hindin Miller and the group Smith and Dragoman was played, then participants watched a short performance based on the Diary of Juliet Thompson. A scavenger hunt list was posted of common items found around the house, such as a photo, rock, art or musical instrument, and each person was asked to find one or more of the items, and then share why they chose that item and tell us a story about that item, or something educational, humorous or inspiring about it. This game proved to be very enjoyable for everyone. The celebration concluded with an exchange of salutations and warm wishes for the new year by all participants.

For more information about local Baha’i activities, please call Pam Huyck at (907) 232-0130 or Loree Rayback at (907) 795-9649, or check out www.Bahai.us.