Baha'i Holy Days

Baha’is commemorate 11 holy days each year, with 9 Baha’i Holy Days where work and school should be suspended. The dates below are for the Baha’i Holy Days for 2024 and 2025 based on the Gregorian calendar.

Holy days

20242025
Naw-Rúz The Bahá’í New Year20 March20 March
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. 20 April20 April
Ninth Day of Ridván the day on which Bahá’u’lláh’s family joined Him in the Garden of Ridván.28 April28 April
Twelfth Day of Ridván the day on which Bahá’u’lláh and His family left the garden to travel to Constantinople.1 May1 May
Declaration of the Báb the anniversary of the Báb’s announcement of His mission in 1844.23 May23 May
Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh marking the passing of Bahá’u’lláh in 189228 May28 May
Martyrdom of the Báb Who was executed in 18509 July9 July
Birth of the Báb02 Nov22 Oct
Birth of Bahá’u’lláh03 Nov23 Oct
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.25 Nov  25 Nov
Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá** marking the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 192127 Nov27 Nov

Important to note: The majority of the Bahá’í Holy Days are based on the solar calendar commencing with the Spring Equinox. The exceptions to this are The Birth of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh which are set and move according to a lunar calendar. Please see the guidance from the Universal House of Justice for more information. The calendar of Holy Days for the 171 BE to 221 BE can be found here. 

** Work not suspended; Bahá’ís are enjoined to suspend work on all but these holy days.

Other significant days

20242025
Ayyám-i-Há (also known as the Intercalary Days) is a period of celebration devoted to charity, gift-giving, and festivities prior to the annual period of fasting26 Feb – 29 FebFeb 25 to Feb 28

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 those who are ill, elderly, traveling, pregnant, or breastfeeding.

01 to 19 March01 to 19 March