Publish Date: | Fri, 25 Feb 2022 09:55 AM (IST)
Manish Sharma, Gwalior Naiduniya. Millions of Bahá’ís in India and around the world are beginning their fast from March 2 to March 20. Earlier, from 25th to 28th February, the function of “Adhiday” would be celebrated. There is a tradition of giving gifts to the poor, friends and family members during this time. It is noteworthy that a new solar calendar has been introduced in the Bahá’í society, in which 19 months of 19–19 days, ie 361 days, and the remaining 4 days are known as the holy days of “Adhiday”.
For the spiritual development of man, fasting has been commanded in almost all religions. All major religions, including Hinduism, state that fasting is a major means of purifying the body, mind and spirit. The Bahá’í society is the world’s newest religion founded by Bahá’u’lláh (1817–1892) and this religion also regards fasting and obligatory prayer as two pillars of the religion. Arun Sharma, secretary of the local Bahá’í Spiritual Assembly, reported that Bahá’u’lláh wrote that “God’s religion is like the vast sky. Fasting is His sun and obligatory prayer is the moon. Bahá’í fasting involves a complete prohibition of eating and drinking between sunrise and sunset.” All Bahá’ís get up before sunrise, take food and drink after praying and after sunset again break their fast with prayer and food. In the meantime, eating and drinking is forbidden, but Bahá’u’lláh has lived for less than 15 years. Exemption from fasting is granted to youth over 70 years of age, elderly, pregnant or lactating women, patients, physically handicapped people, Navi Yatras, etc. Bahá’u’lláh said that “the rule of fasting is only It is prescribed for only those people who are healthy and strong. For those who are sick and weak, this rule was neither applicable nor is it now. At the end of the Bahá’í fast, Bahá’ís celebrate “Nauruz”, which marks the beginning of the Bahá’í New Year.
Posted By: vikash.pandey