Holy Day

Yesterday was the First Day of Ridvan, which we celebrated in the gardens at Bahji. It was overcast, very hot and humid. Strange weather. It created a special mood somehow, subdued but intense.

One lovely thing about the holy days here is that people dress up in traditional costumes. It is so colorful and beautiful. Indian punjabis are a big favorite, and people from all over the world wear them. Actually, many people wear costumes from places other other than their own home countries, which really makes visible the beauty of believing that we are all one family. Also there was one woman wearing a dirndl, which I liked because we don’t see many traditional western costumes (unless you count the men’s suit and tie, I suppose). Refreshments were served after that we went to sit in the gardens for the program.

The readings were very moving. There is one prayer that is always read in Arabic at the end of the program, the Tablet of Visitation. One of my friends and I often try to follow along in the English while it is being read. I can recognize a word or two in most of the sentences of the prayer. After this Tablet we circumambulated the Shrine, forming at one time a physical, living, breathing, moving, human, shared act of worship.

We had come to the holy day with our friend and his brother and sister that were visiting. Afterwards we went out to eat together and then came back to our place for chicory and more conversation. We were so glad to get to know them. It was a rich full day.