Bahá’í World/Volume 13/Bahá’í Calendar, Festivals and Dates of Historic Significance

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[Page 749]

4. BAHA’l CALENDAR, FESTIVALS

AND DATES

OF HISTORIC

SIGNIFICANCE

FOREWORD

By DR. J. E. ESSLEMONT From Bahd'u’lla’h and the New Era

AMONG different peoples and at different times many different methods have been adopted for the measurement of time and fixing of dates, and several different calendars are still in daily use, e.g., the Gregorian in Western Europe, the Julian in many countries of Eastern Europe, the Hebrew among the Jews, and the Muhammadan in Muslim countries.

The Bath signalized the importance of the dispensation which He came to herald, by inaugurating a new calendar. In this, as in the Gregorian Calendar, the lunar month is abandoned and the solar year is adopted.

The Bahá’í year consists of 19 months of 19 days each (i.e., 361 days), with the addition of certain “intercalary days’1(four in ordinary and five in leap years) between the eighteenth and nineteenth months in order to adjust the

calendar to the solar year. The Báb named the months after the attributes of God. The Bahá’í New Year, like the ancient Persian New Year, is astronomically fixed, commencing at the March equinox (March 21), and the Bahá’í era commences with the year of the Báb’s declaration (i.e., 1844 A.D., 1260 A.H.).

In the not far distant future it will be necessary that all peoples in the world agree on a common calendar.

It seems, therefore, fitting that the new age of unity should have a new calendar free from the objections and associations which make each of the older calendars unacceptable to large sections of the world’s population, and it is difficult to see how any other arrangement could exceed in simplicity and convenience that proposed by the Báb.

Bahá’í FEASTS, ANNIVERSARIES AND DAYS OF FASTING

Feast of Riḍván (Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh), April 21—May 2, 1863.

Feast of Naw-Rt'iz (New Year), March 2]. Declaration of the Báb, May 23, 1844. The Day of the Covenant, November 26. Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, November 12, 1817. Birth of the Báb, October 20, 1819.

Birth of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, May 23, 1844. Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, May 29, 1892. Martyrdom of the Báb, July 9, 1850.

Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, November 28, 1921.

Fasting season lasts 19 days beginning with the first day of the month of ‘Alé, March 2 —the feast of Naw-Rt’iz follows immediately after.

749

[Page 750]750 THE Bahá’í WORLD BAHA’I HOLY DAYS ON WHICH WORK SHOULD BE SUSPENDED

The first day of Riḍván, The ninth day of Riḍván, The twelfth day of Riḍván, The anniversary of the declaration of the Báb, The anniversary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh, The anniversary of the birth of the Báb, The anniversary of the ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, The anniversary of the martyrdom of the Báb, The feast of Naw-Rúz.

NOTE: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in one of His Tablets addressed to a believer of Nayriz, Persia, has written the following: “Nine days in the year have been appointed on which work is forbidden. Some of these days have been specifically mentioned in the Book. The rest follow as corollaries to the Text. . . . Work on the Day of the Covenant (Fete Day of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá), however, is not prohibited. Celebration of that day is left to the discretion of the friends. Its observation is not obligatory. The days pertaining to the Abhá Beauty (Bahá’u’lláh) and the Primal Point (the Báb), that is to say these nine days, are the only ones on which work connected with trade, commerce, industry and agriculture is not allowed. In like manner, work connected with any form of employment, whether governmental or otherwise, should be suspended.” As a corollary of this Tablet it follows that the anniversaries Of the birth and ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are not to be regarded as days on which work is prohibited. The celebration of these two days, however, is obligatory. Bahá’ís in East and West, holding administrative positions, whether public or private, should exert the utmost effort to obtain special leave from their superiors to enable them to observe these nine holy days.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL GLEANED FROM NABIL’S NARRATIVE -(VOL. II), REGARDING THE BAHA’I CALENDAR The Badi‘ Calendar (Bahá’í Calendar) as the beginning of the Badi‘ Calendar.’

The Declaration of the Báb took place

has been taken by me from the Kitáb-iAsma”, one of the works written by the Báb. As I have observed in these days that certain believers are inclined to regard the year in which Bahá’u’lláh departed from Baghdad to Constantinople as marking the beginning of the Badi‘ Calendar, I have requested Mirza Aqa Jan, the amanuensis of Bahá’u’lláh, to ascertain His will and desire concerning this matter. Bahá’u’lláh answered and said: ‘The year sixty A.H. (1844 A.D.), the year of the Declaration of the Bath, must be regarded

on the evening preceding the fifth day of Jamadiyu’l—Avval, of the year 1260 A.H. It has been ordained that the solar calendar be followed, and that the vernal Equinox, the day of Naw-RL'iz, be regarded as the New Year’s Day of the Badi‘ Calendar. The year sixty, in which the fifth day of Jamadiyu’l-Avval coincided with the sixty-fifth day after Naw-Rl’iz, has accordingly been regarded as the first year of the Badi‘ Calendar. As in that year, the day of Naw-Rúz, the

[Page 751]BAHA’I CALENDAR AND FESTIVALS 751

vernal Equinox, preceded by sixty‘six days the date of the Declaration of the Báb, I have therefore, throughout my history, regarded the Naw-Rl'iz of the year sixty-one A.H. (the Naw-Rl'iz immediately following the Declaration of the Bath) as the first Naw-Rl'iz of the Badi‘ Calendar. I have accordingly considered the Naw-Rt’iz of this present year, the year 1306 A.H., which is the 47th solar year after the Declaration of the Báb, as the 46th Naw-Rt’iz of the Badi‘ Calendar.

Soon after Bahá’u’lláh had left the fortress

of ‘Akká and was dwelling in the house of Malik, in that city, He commanded me to transcribe the text of the Badi‘ Calendar and to instruct the believers in its details. On the very day in which I received His command, I composed, in verse and prose, an exposition of the main features of that Calendar and presented it to Him. The versified copy, being now unavailable, I am herein transcribing the version in prose. The days of the week are named as follows:

Days Arabic Name English Name Translation lst Jalal Saturday Glory 2nd Jamal Sunday Beauty 3rd Kama] Monday Perfection 4th Fidél Tuesday Grace 5 th ‘Idal Wednesday J ustice 6th Istijlal Thursday Majesty 7th lstiqlél Friday Independence

The names of the months, which are the same as the days of each month, are as follows:

Month Arabic Name Translation First Days lst Baha Splendor March 21 2nd Jalal Glory April 9 3rd J amal Beauty April 28 4th ‘Azamat Grandeur May 17 5th Nt'lr Light June 5 6th Rahmat Mercy June 24 7th Kah’mét Words July 13 8th Kamél Perfection August 1 9th Asma’ Names August 20

10th ‘Izzat Might September 8 11th Mafliyyat Will September 27 12th ‘llm Knowledge October 16 13th Qudrat Power November 4 14th Qawl Speech November 23 15th Masa’i] Questions December 12 16th flaraf Honor December 31 17th Sultan Sovereignty January 19 18th Mulk Dominion February 7 19th ‘Ala’ Loftiness March 2

Ayyém-i—Hé. (Intercalary Days) February 26 to March 1 inclusive four in ordinary and five in leap years.

The first day of each month is thus the day of Baha, and the last day of each month the day of ‘Alé’.

The Báb has regarded the solar year, of 365 days, 5 hours, and fifty odd minutes, as consisting of 19 months of 19 days each,

with the addition of certain intercalary days. He has named the New Year’s Day, which is the Day of Naw-Rúz, the day of Bahá, of the month of Baha. He has ordained the month of ‘Alé.’ to be the month of fasting, and has decreed that the day of Naw-Rt’iz

[Page 752]752

should mark the termination of that period. As the Bath did not specifically define the place for the four days and the fraction of a day in the Badi‘ Calendar, the people of the Baya'n were at a loss as to how they should regard them. The revelation of the Kita'b-iAqdas in the city of ‘Akká resolved this problem and settled the issue. Bahá’u’lláh designated those days as the “Ayyém-i-Ha" and ordained that they should immediately precede the month of ‘Ala’, which is the month of fasting. He enjoined upon His followers to devote these days to feasting, rejoicing, and charity. Immediately upon the termination of these intercalary days, Bahá’u’lláh ordained the month of fasting to begin. I have heard it stated that some of the people of the Haydn, the followers of Mind Yaḥyá, have regarded these intercalary days as coming immediately after the month of ‘Ala’, thus terminating their fast five days before the day of Naw-Rúz. This, notwithstanding the explicit text of the Baya’n which states that the day of Naw-Rt'lz must needs be the first day of the month of Bahá, and must follow immediately after the last day of the month of ‘Ala’. Others, aware of this contradiction, have started their fasting on the fifth day of the month of ‘Ala’, and included the intercalary days within the period of fasting.

Every fourth year the number of the intercalary days is raised from four to five. The day of Naw-Rt’iz falls on the let of March only if the vernal Equinox precedes the setting of the sun on that day. Should the vernal Equinox take place after sunset, Naw-Rt’lz will have to be celebrated on the following day.

The Bath has, moreover, in His writings, revealed in the Arabic tongue, divided the years following the date of His Revelation, into cycles of nineteen years each. The names of the years in each cycle are as follows:

THE Bahá’í WORLD

1. Alif A.

2. Ba’ B.

3. Ab Father.

4. Dal D.

5. Bab Gate.

6. Vav V.

7. Abad Eternity. 8. Jad Generosity. 9. Baha Splendor. 10. Hubb Love.

11. Bahhaj Delightful. 12. Javab Answer. 13. Abad Single.

14. Vahhéb Bountiful. 15, Vidad Afl‘ectibn. l6. Badi‘ Beginning. l7. Bahi Luminous. 18. Abhá Most Luminous. 19. Véhid Unity.

Each cycle of nineteen years is called Vahid. Nineteen cycles constitute a period called Kull-i-fihay’. The numerical value of the word “Véhid” is nineteen, that of “Kulli—Shay’ ” is 361. “Véhid” signifies unity, and is symbolic of the unity of God.

The Báb has, moreover, stated that this system of His is dependent upon the acceptance and good-pleasure of “Him Whom God shall make manifest.” One word from Him would suffice either to establish it for all time, or to annul it forever.

For instance, the date of the let of April, 1930, which is the first day of Riḍván, and which according to the Kitdb—i—Aqdas must coincide with the “thirteenth day of the second Bahá’í month,” and which fell this year (1930) on Monday, would, according to the system of the Badi‘ Calendar, be described as follows:

“The day of Kamal, the day of Qudrat, Of the month of Jalal, of the year Bahhaj, of the fifth Véhid, of the first Kull-i- ghay’.”

[Page 753]Bahá’í CALENDAR AND FESTIVALS

753

HISTORICAL DATA GLEANED FROM NABfL’S NARRATIVE (VOL. II) REGARDING Bahá’u’lláh

A. BAGJDAD

Arrival latter part Ihéni, 1269 A.H.

March 12—April 10, 1853 AD.

Departure for Sulayméniyyih on Wednesday, April 10, 1854 AD.Rajab 12, 1270 A.H.

B. SULAYMANiYYIH

Jamédiyu’m Before reaching Sulayméniyyih, He lived for a time on the Sar-Gall'l mountain.

During His absence from Baghdad, His family transferred their residence from House of Hájí ‘AliMadad to that of Sulaymén-iQfianném.

Nabil arrived at Baghdad 6 months after Bahá’u’lláh’s departure for Sulayméniyyih.

C. BAngAD

Arrived from Sulayméniyyih on Wednesday, March 19, 1856 AD. —Rajab 12, 1272 A.H.

Departure from Mazra‘iy-i-Vafl§hé$z Thursday, March 26, 1863 A.D.—&avvél 5, 1279 A.H.

Tablet of the Holy Mariner revealed while in the Mazra‘iy-i-Vaflfléfi.

Departure from Baghdád for Constantinople, Wednesday afternoon (first day of Riḍván), April 22, 1863 A.D.—mi’1—Qa‘dih 3, 1279 A.H.

Works Revealed During This Period

Houses Occupied During This Period

Kullu’g-Ta‘ém

Prayers

Qasidiy-i-Varqé’iyyih

1

Séqi—Az—Qhayb-i Baqé

‘ Tafsir-i-Hurfifét-i

Muqagta‘ih

Sahifiy-i-Sha§tjyyih

Haft-Védi ‘ (Seven Valleys) 1 Tafsir-i-HL’I ‘ Lawh—i—Hfiriyyih Kitáb-i—iqén ‘ Kalimét-i-Makm’mih 1 (Hidden Words) 1 Subhéna-Rabbiya’l‘ ‘Alé Shikkar-fllikanfiavand Hur-i-‘Ujéb Halih-Halih-Yé Bighérat Qhulému’l-fluld Az-Bégh-i-Iléhi Béz-Av-u-Bidih-Jémi

House of Hájí ‘AliMadad (in old Baghdad) House of Sulayméni-fianném

[Page 754]754

THE Bahá’í WORLD

C. BAgflDAD—cominued

Sl’iriy—i-Sabr revealed on first day of Riḍván.

Arrival at Garden of Najibiyyih (Garden of Riḍván), April 22, 1863 A.D.—_Dhi’l-Qa‘dih 3, 1279 A.H.

Arrival of Bahá’u’lláh’s Family at Garden of Riḍván on eighth day after first of Riḍván.

Departure from Garden of Riḍván for Constantinople last day of Riḍván, at noon on Sunday, May 3, 1863 A.D.—D_hi’l-Qa‘dih 14, 1279 A.H.

Length of overland journey from Garden of Riḍván to Sémsun on Black Sea: 110 days.

Firayjét (arrival early afternoonstayed seven days), arrived on Sunday, May 3, 1863 A.D.—D_hi’lQa‘dih 14, 1279 A.H. (Firayjét is about 3 miles distant from Baghdad)

Judaydih,

Dili-‘Abbés,

Qarih-Tapih,

Saléhiyyih (stayed two nights),

Dust-_K_hurmétu,

Téwuq,

Karkfik (stayed two days),

Irbil,

Zéb River,

Bartallih,

Mosul (stayed 3 days),

Zé1<_hL'i,

Jazirih,

Nisibin,

Works Revealed Houses Occupied During This During This Period Period

Malláhu’l-Quds (Holy Mariner)

Sfiriy-i-Sabr

Hasan-Aqé,

Mérdin,

Diyér-Bakr,

Ma‘dan-Mis,

flérput (stayed 2 or 3 days),

Ma‘dan-Nuqrih,

Dilik—Tésh,

Sivas,

Tuqét,

Amasia (stayed 2 days),

lláhiyyih (while approaching Saim sun, “Lawh-i-Hawdaj” was revealed),

(last day of overland journey),

Sémsun (stayed 7 days), Black Sea port. Sailed in a Turkish steamer about sunset for Constantinople,

Sinope (arrived next day about noon), Black Sea port: stayed few hours,

Anyébuli (arrived next day).

D. CONSTANTINOPLE

Works Revealed Dur- Houses Occupied Dur ing This Period ing This Period D uratlon

Sunday, August Lawhi-‘Abdu’l-‘Aziz

(2-story, near thr Arrival at noon on Subhémka-Yz‘LHl’i ‘ House of §hamsi Big lmonth

16, 1863, A.D. Va-Vukalé Rabi‘u’l-Awal 1, ‘ 1280 A.H.

gih flaraf Mosque):

[Page 755]

(Tablet to the Shéh of Persia) Lawh-i-Nuqtih

Bahá’í CALENDAR AND FESTIVALS 755 D. CONSTANTINOPLE— Works Revealed Dur- Houses Occupied Dur- Duration continued ing This Period ing This Period Length of sea voyage House of Visi Péghé 3 months from Sémsfin to (3-story, near Sulgén Constantinople 3 Muhammad days. Mosque) Length of J ourney i from Constantinople to Adrianople 12 days. 1. Kfiflik—Qakmacj—ih (3 hours from Constantinople—spent one night) 2. Bfiyfik-Qfiakmaflih (arrived about noon) 3. Salvari 4. Birkés 5. Bábé-Iski E. ADRIANOPLE Works Revealed Dur- Houses Occupied Dur- Duration ing This Period ing This Period Arrival on Saturday, SL’Iriy-i-A$héb 1. flén-i-‘Aréb 3 nights December 12, 1863 (caravanserai, A.D.—Rajab 1, two-story, near 1280 A.H. Lawh-i-Hajj 1 house of ‘Izzat-Aqé) Length of stay: 4 years, 8 months, 22 days. “ “ “ 11 Length of overland Kitáb-i-Badi‘ 2. House in Murédiy- 1 week journey from Con- Sfiriy-i-Muh’ik yih quarter, near stantinople to Ad- (Tablet of the Takyiy-i-Mawlavi rianople: 12 days. Kings) Departure from Adri- Sfiriy-i-Amr 3. House in Murédiy- 6 months anople on Wednes- Sfiriy—i-Damm yih quarter, near day, August 12, Alváḥ-i-Laylatu’l- house 2 1868 A.D.—Rabi- Quds 4. Qéniy-i-Amru’lláh ‘u’m-fléni 22, Munéjéthéy-i-Siyém (several stories, 1285 A.H. (Prayers for Fasting) near Sulgén-Salim Mosque) Lawh-i-Sayyéh 5. House of Ridé Big 1 year Lawh-i-Népulyl'm I 6. House of Amru’lláh 3 months? (First Tablet to (3-story. North Napoleon III) of Sultén-Sah’m Mosque) Lawh-i-Sulgén 7. House of ‘Izzat—Aqé 11 months

[Page 756]

756 THE Bahá’í WORLD 1. Uzun-Kupri 2. Kagénih (arrived about noon. Lawh-i-Ra’is [Tablet of Ra’is] was revealed in this place) 3. Gallipoli (length of journey from Adrianople to Gallipoli about 4 days) (after a few days’ stay sailed before noon in Austrian steamer for Alexandria, Egypt) 4. Madelli (arrived about sunset—left at night) 5. Smyrna (stayed 2 days, left at night) 6. Alexandria (arrived in the morning, trans-shipped and left at night for Haifa) 7. Port Said (arrived morning, left the same day at night) 8. Jaffa (left at midnight) 9. Haifa (arrived in the morning, landed and after a few hours left on a sailing vessel for ‘Akká) F. ‘AKKA Works Revealed Dur- Houses Occupied Dur— Duration ing This Period ing This Period Arrival on Monday, Kitáb-i-Aqdas 1. Barracks 2years, 2 August 31, AD. Lawh-i-Napulyun 11 months, 1868—Jamédiyu’l- (Second Tablet to 5 days Avval 12, 1285 A.H. Napoleon III) Lawh-i-Malikih 2. House of Malik 3 months (Tablet to Queen 3. House of Rébi‘ih Victoria) Lawh-i-Malik—i-Rus 4. House of Mansur 2 or 3 Purest Branch died (Tablet to the months

on Thursday, June

Czar)

23, 1870 A.D.-— Sl’lriy—i—Haykal 5. House of ‘Abbud Rabi‘u’l-Avval 23 Lawh-i-Burhén (where Kitáb-i1287 A.H. Lawh—i—Ru’yé Aqdas was reLawh-i-Ibn-i-mi’b vealed) (Epistle to Son of 6. Mazra‘ih the Wolf) Lawh-i-Pép 7. Qasr Passed away May 29, 1 (Tablet to the (Mansion, where 1892 AD. 1 Pope) He passed away)

DATES OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE DURING THE FIRST ONE HUNDRED AND N1NETEEN YEARS OF THE BAHA’I FAITH

Declaration of the Mission of the Báb in

Martyrdom of the Báb in Tabríz, Aflir Shíráz .............. May 23, 1844 bayjan .................... July 9, 1850 Departure of the Báb on His pilgrimage to Attempt on the life of Nésiri’d-Din mm Mecca --------------- September, 1844 ...................... August 15, 1852 Arrlval Of the Báb 1n Máh-Kú, Afllrbayjan Imprisonment of Bahá’u’lláh in the Siyah........................ Summer, ’1847 Ch'l of Tihran Au ust 1852 Incarceration of the Báb in ghihriq, Afllir- _a ‘ ’ ’ ' ' ' ' ' ‘ ’ ' g , ’ béyjén ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, April, 1843 Banishment of Bahá’u’lláh to Baghdad . . . . Conference of Badagt .......... June, 1848 -------------------- January 12, 1853 Interrogation of the Báb in Tabríz, Aflir- Withdrawal of Bahá’u’lláh to Kurdistan . . . . béyjén .................... July, 1848 ........................ April 10, 1854

[Page 757]Bahá’í CALENDAR AND FESTIVALS

Return of Bahá’u’lláh from Kurdistan ...................... March 19, 1856 Declaration of the Mission of Bahá’u’lláh ........................ April 22, 1863 Arrival of Bahá’u’lláh in Constantinople. . . . ...................... August 16, 1863 Arrival of Bahá’u’lláh in Adrianople .................... December 12, 1863 Departure of Bahá’u’lláh from Adrianople ........................ August 12, 1868 Arrival of Bahá’u’lláh in ‘Akká .......... ........................ August 31, 1868 Death of the Purest Branch. . . .June 23, 1870 Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh ...... May 29, 1892 First public reference to the Faith in America ................ September 23, 1893

Establishment of the first Bahá’í centre in_

the West ................ February, 1894 Arrival of the first group of Western pilgrims in ‘Akká ............ December 10, 1898 Arrival of the Báb’s remains in the Holy Land ................ January 31, 1899 Reincarceration of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in ‘Akká ........................ August 20, 1901 Commencement of the construction of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of ‘Ishqábád ........ .................... November 28, 1902 Release of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá from His incarceration .................. September, 1908 Interment of the Báb’s remains on Mt. Carmel .................... March 21, 1909 Opening of the first American Bahá’í Convention ................ March 21, 1909 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s departure for Egypt ........ ...................... September, 1910 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s arrival in London .......... .................... September 4, 1911 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s arrival in America ........ ........................ April 11, 1912 Laying of the corner-stone of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Wilmette, 111., by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá .................... May 1, 1912 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s return to the Holy Land . . . . ...................... December 5, 1913 Unveiling of the Tablets of the Divine Plan ............................ April, 1919 Commencement of the construction of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Wilmette, Illinois ........................ December, 1920 Passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá .................... November 28, 1921 Verdict of the Muhammadan Court in Egypt pronouncing the Faith to be an independent religion ............ , ...... May 10, 1925

757

Martha Root’s first interview with Queen Marie of Rumania ...... January 30, 1926 Resolution of the Council of the League of Nations upholding the claim of the Bahá’í community to the House of Bahá’u’lláh in Baghdad .............. March 4, 1929 Passing of the Greatest Holy Leaf ........ ............................ July, 1932 Inception of the First American Seven-Year Plan .................... April, 1937 Completion of exterior ornamentation of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Wilmette, Illinois ................................ 1943 Centenary celebration of the Founding of the Bahá’í Faith and opening of first AllAmerican Bahá’í Convention .......... ........................ May 23, 1944 Inception of Second American Seven-Year Plan ...................... April, 1946 Completion of Arcade and Parapet of the Shrine of the Báb on Mt. Carmel ........ .......................... July 9, 1950

Commemoration of Centenary of the Martyrdom of the Báb .......... July 9, 1950 Completion of interior ornamentation of the Mashriqu’l-Adjkér in Wilmette, Illinois ........................ October, 1952 Inauguration of the Centenary Celebrations of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh’s Prophetic Mission ................ October, 1952 First Bahá’í Intercontinental Teaching Conference, Kampala, Uganda, Africa ...... .................. February 12—18, 1953 Bahá’í dedication of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Wilmette, Illinois ........ May 1, 1953 Public dedication .......... May 2, 1953 All-America Bahá’í Intercontinental Teaching Conference, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., and the inauguration of the T en-Year International Bahá’í Teaching and Consolidation Plan .................... May 3—6, 1953 Third Bahá’í Intercontinental Teaching Conference, Stockholm, Sweden ............ ...................... July 21—26, 1953 Fourth Bahá’í Intercontinental Teaching Conference, New Delhi, India .......... .................... October 7—15, 1953 Completion of the construction of the Shrine of the Báb .......... October, 1953 Expansion of the Faith to 100 additional

countries and islands by settlement of the Knights of Bahá’u’lláh ...... 1953—1954

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Completion of exterior of International Archives Building ................ 1957 Passing of Shoghi Effendi ................ .................... November 4, 1957 Holding of five Intercontinental Teaching Conferences successively in Kampala, Sydney, Wilmette, Frankfurt, Djakarta/ Singapore ........................ 1958 First Dependency of a Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, the Bahá’í Home for the Aged, opened in Wilmette,Illinois, U.S.A. .. January, 1959 Dedication of the Mother Temple of Africa, Kampala, Uganda .......... January, 1961

THE BAHA’I WORLD

International Bahá’í Council becomes an elected body ................ April, 1961 Dedication of Mother Temple of the Antipodes, Sydney, Australia .............. ...................... September, 1961 Completion of outer structure of Mother Temple of Europe, near Frankfurt, Germany .............. November, 1962 Completion of the Ten Year Crusade, fulfilling Daniel’s prophecy; celebration of the Most Great Jubilee, in London; election of the Universal House of J ustice ........ ............................ April, 1963