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The Baha'i Calendar and Ayyam-i-Ha

© Lloyd Madansky

Since the time on the Baha'I Calendar called AyyAM-I-Ha (February 26 to March 1, inclusive) has just past, I though an article about the Baha'I Calendar and AyyAM-I-Ha would be in order.

The Baha'I Calendar (sometimes known as the Badi Calendar) was inauguarated by The Bab. It was used to signalize the importance of not only The Bab's dispensation, but also the dispensation He came to herald; that of Baha'u'llah. As with the Gregorian Calendar, it is based on the solar year. The year begins on the March equinox (usually March 21st) and the Baha'I era has it's beginning on the year of The Bab's declaration (1844 A.D.).

Unlike the Gregorian Year, the Baha'I year consists of 19 months of 19 days, and the addition of "Interclary Days" known as AyyMA-I-Ha. In the Kitab-I-Aqdas, Baha'u'llah specified that they should be observed during the four days (five during leap year) before the last month of the Baha'I Year, `Ala'. The month of `Ala' is the month of fasting between sunrise and sunset. I occurs between March 2 and March 20. I will devote my next article to this important Baha'I observance.

These Intercalary Days aare devoted to spiritual preparation for the fast, hospitality, feasting, charity and gift giving. Beyond this, how they are observed are left up to the individual Baha'is and their communities.

Following is a list of web sites that relate to this topic:

"http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/7795/" Creative Inspirations - Exploring Creativity through the Arts and Spirituality. This site has many ideas for celebrating various Holy Days with the use of the arts and crafts. Although they have a Baha'I leaning, many of the suggestions can be adapted to other religions.

"http://www.fragrant.demon.co.uk/caltext...." The Baha'I Calendar - Web Site with a link to a Baha'I Date converter - Get the Bahá'í Date converter This Freeware probramme gives you the Bahá'í Date from the Gregorian Date, CE. Available for Win95, WinNT and for Win3.11

"http://www.bahai-va.org/calendar.html" Another Baha'I Calendar Web Site that I feel is worth the time to visit.

"http://www.dailyglobe.com/badi.html" A history of the Badi (Baha'I) Calendar from the Daily Globe. The Daily Globe showcases famous birthdays, holidays from around the world. Although this is not a Baha'I site it is interesting.

"http://members.aol.com/cimeroncg/bbb.htm" Blessings of the Best-Beloved ...Fun for Bahá'í Children... A good craft page for children of all ages. Much of the crafts can also be adapted to other religions.

Baha'u'llah revealed many prayers. The following prayer refers to AyyAM-I-Ha:

My God, my Fire and my Light! The days which Thou hast named the AyyÁM-i-Há in Thy Book have begun, O Thou Who art the King of names, and the fast which Thy most exalted Pen hath enjoined unto all who are in the kingdom of Thy creation to observe is approaching. I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by these days and by all such as have during that period clung to the cord of Thy commandments, and laid hold on the handle of Thy precepts, to grant that unto every soul may be assigned a place within the precincts of Thy court, and a seat at the revelation of the splendors of the light of Thy countenance.