Baha’i Calendar
The Baha’i calendar consists of 19 months of 19 days each, with the addition of intercalary days known as Ayyám-i-Há. The number of these intercalary days varies according to the timing of the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere in successive years. Each of the 19 months are named after certain attributes of God. The Bahá’í New Year (Naw-Rúz) is astronomically fixed, coinciding with the vernal equinox. Holy Days are fixed within the solar calendar, except for the observance of the Festival of the Twin Birthdays—the Birth of the Báb and the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh—which moves year to year, taking place on the first and the second day following the occurrence of the eighth new moon after Naw-Rúz.
According to the Bahá’í calendar, a day is the period from sunset to sunset; consequently, the day on which a Nineteen Day Feast, Holy Day, or other significant dates are observed begins at sunset on the eve of each corresponding Gregorian calendar date shown below. For example, if Naw-Rúz falls on 21 March, it is marked from sunset on 20 March to sunset on 21 March.
Baha’i Holy Days 2024/25
(For all holy days, observance begins at sunset on the evening before)
March 1 – 19, 2024 The month of fasting, during which Bahá’ís from the age of 15 abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset. There are exemptions, including for those who are ill, elderly, traveling, pregnant or breastfeeding.
March 20, 2024* Naw Rúz, the Bahá’í New Year.
April 20, 2024* First Day of Ridván (meaning “Paradise” in Arabic) — the most important of the Bahá’í Holy Days. It is the day on which Bahá’u’lláh declared His mission as a Messenger of God in the Garden of Ridván.
April 28, 2024* Ninth Day of Ridván, the day on which Bahá’u’lláh’s family joined Him in the Garden of Ridván.
May 1, 2024* Twelfth Day of Ridván, the day on which Bahá’u’lláh and His family left the garden to travel to Constantinople.
May 23, 2024* Declaration of the Báb, the anniversary of the Báb’s announcement of His mission in 1844.
May 28, 2024* Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, marking the passing of Bahá’u’lláh in 1892.
July 9, 2024* Martyrdom of the Báb, who was executed in 1850.
November 2 2024** Birth of the Báb, 1819–1850. The Báb (meaning “Gate” in Arabic) is considered to have paved the way for the incarnation of Bahá’u’lláh, similar to the relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. Born in 1819 in Shiraz, Iran, The Báb’s mission was to awaken the people to the fact that a new period in human history had begun. He called for spiritual and moral reformation – a revolutionary message in his time.
November 3, 2024** Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, 1817–1892. Bahá’u’lláh was born in 1817 in Tehran, Iran and established the Bahá’í Faith whose principal teachings are the oneness of humanity, the oneness of religion and the oneness of God. The appearance of Bahá’u’lláh has been likened to a spiritual springtime, destined to spread peace and unity around the globe.
November 25, 2024 Day of the Covenant, commemorating Bahá’u’lláh’s appointment of His son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, as the One to whom His followers should turn after His passing.
November 27, 2024 Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, marking the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1921.
February 26 – 29, 2025 Ayyám-i-Há (also known as the Intercalary Days), a period of celebration devoted to charity, gift-giving and festivities prior to the annual period of fasting.
March 1 – 19, 2025 The month of fasting, during which Bahá’ís from the age of 15 abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset. There are exemptions, including for those who are ill, elderly, traveling, pregnant or breastfeeding.
*Bahá’ís suspend work and school on these Holy Days.
** The Bahá’í Holy Days are set and move according to a solar calendar. However the Holy Days marking the birth days of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh are set and move according to a lunar calculation.