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The Bahá'í Nineteen Day Feast 


A Blend of Worship, Fellowship, and Grassroots Democracy

The centrepiece of Bahá'í community life is the Nineteen Day Feast. Held once every 19 days, it is the local community's regular worship gathering--and more.
Open to both adults and children, the Nineteen Day Feast is the regular gathering that promotes and sustains the unity of the local Bahá'í community. Although its program is adaptable to a wide variety of cultural and social needs, the Feast always contains three elements: spiritual devotion, administrative consultation, and fellowship. As such, the Feast combines religious worship with grassroots governance and social enjoyment.

The use of the word "feast" might seem to imply that a large meal will be served. That is not necessarily the case. While food and beverages are usually served, the term itself is meant to suggest that the community should enjoy a "spiritual feast" of worship, companionship and unity. Bahá'u'lláh stressed the importance of gathering every nineteen days, "to bind your hearts together," even if nothing more than water is served.

During the devotional program, selections from the Bahá'í writings, and often the scriptures from other religions, are read aloud. A general discussion follows, allowing every member a voice in community affairs and making the Feast an "arena of democracy at the very root of society." The Feast ends with a period for socializing.

Feast Dates

     
Baha Splendour 21 March
Jalal Glory 9 April
Jamal Beauty 28 April
'Azamat Grandeur 17 May
Nur Light 5 June
Rahmat Mercy 24 June
Kalimat Words 13 July
Kamal Perfection 1 August
Azma Names 20 August
`Izzat Might 8 September
Mashiyyat Will 27 September
`Ilm Knowledge 16 October
Qudrat Power 4 November
Qawl Speech 23 November
Masa'il Questions 12 December
Sharaf Honour 31 December
Sultan Sovereignty 19 January
Mulk Dominion 7 February
`Ala Loftiness 2 March

  

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Related pages on UpliftingWords.org

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Devotional programs for the 19 day Feast

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Flashlist: A selected of Bahá'í quotes presented in flash format.

  

  Excerpted from The Bahá'ís, a publication of the Bahá'í International Community.   


  

  

  

  

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