The festival, which commences from the evening of February 25 and ends on sunset on March 1st, serves as a spiritual preparation for the fast which occurs during the last month of the Bahà’i calendar. This month begins on March 2nd and ends on March 20th.

The celebrations during Ayyàm-i-Hà, as the festival is named, may vary from community to community, and may involve service and charity, social gatherings, the giving of gifts and showing of hospitality.

The Bahà’i calendar comprises 19 months of 19 days. The Ayyàm-i-Hà festival occurs during the four days (five in a leap year) between the 18th and 19th month of the Baha’i calendar year.

Of this festive period, Bahà ‘u’llàh (1817 – 1892) writes, “It behoveth the people of Bahà’i throughout these days to provide good cheer for themselves, their kindred and beyond them, the poor and needy, and with joy and exultation to hail and glorify their Lord, to sing His praise and magnify His name.”

During the Fast that follows, Bahà‘is abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset. The Fast is a period of meditation and prayer during which Bahà‘is refresh and reinvigorate themselves spiritually.

There are exemptions from the Fast for the young and elderly, and for those who are pregnant, ill or who are engaging in heavy work.

The Fasting period ends with the joyous Naw-Rùz (New Year) festival, which begins at sunset on March 20th.
ROOPLALL DUDHNATH