Australian Baha’is, like their counterparts in more than 180 countries worldwide, will soon begin celebrations devoted to charity, gift-giving and hospitality.
From 25 February to 1 March, Baha’is will celebrate the festival of “Ayyam-i-Ha” with their families and friends and at events organised in their local Baha’i communities.
Nicole Subhani, 8, is a Melbourne Baha’i who says she is really looking forward to Ayyam-i-Ha this year.
“My favorite thing about Ayyam-i-Ha is the presents I get from Mum and Dad each morning,” Nicole said.
“This year there will be five mornings with five presents because it’s a leap year,” she said.
“I will also give presents or lolly bags to my friends at school.”
“We have fun decorating the house and inviting people over for dinner during Ayyam-i-Ha,” she said.
“I also like to help people because Ayyam-i-Ha is a time of giving to everyone.”
“Last year we cleaned the local park and took away all the paper and plastic bags, glass bottles, chip packets and other rubbish.”
The Ayyam-i-Ha festival comes near the end of the Baha’i year, which is divided into 19 months of 19 days.
It falls on the “intercalary” days, between the 18th and 19th months of the Baha’i calendar, that are necessary to align it with the 365-day Gregorian solar calendar.
The festival is also a time of spiritual preparation for the annual 19-day Baha’i Fast, which begins on 2 March and ends on 20 March.