Around the world, Baha’is are celebrating a significant milestone in the history of the faith and West Shore communities have joined together to mark the occasion this weekend.
This year is the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, the Prophet and founder of the Baha’i faith, and on Sunday, Oct. 22 more than five million Baha’is around the world will mark the occasion. It also falls the day after the Birth of Bab, the Prophet Herald of the Baha’i Faith, on Oct. 21. These two events are being referred to as the Twin Holly Days by Baha’is and festivities are taking place around the world with events spread throughout the 48-hour period.
On the West Shore, local Baha’is are inviting residents to join them in the 200th anniversary celebration of the birth of Baha’u’llah.
Events get underway at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21 in Langford at Belmont Secondary, 3041 Langford Lake Rd.
The celebration will start with time to socialize with others, desserts, a video and more information on the life and mission of Baha’u’llah.
At 7:30 p.m. the program for the 200th commemoration will begin.
“It’s going to be a dramatic event,” said Sharon Welsh, one of the organizers. “We’ll have people acting out different life events.”
Pixie MacCallum added, “For this event, members of the West Shore communities have come together for a big celebration.”
While both MacCallum and Welsh are members of the Langford Baha’i community, they noted they’ve partnered with neighbouring West Shore communities as others in the region have done and events are taking place in several communities.
But as Welsh noted, the West Shore celebration isn’t just for those belonging to the Baha’i Faith. “It’s open to the public, everyone is welcome,” she said. “People who are just curious are more than welcome to come.”
While MacCallum won’t be able to attend the event, she hoped other residents will take the opportunity to learn more about the Baha’is.
MacCallum has taken the opportunity to attend a pilgrimage in the Baha’is’ holy land with what she expected would be another 400-plus people on the nine-day trip.
“We’re getting pretty excited,” MacCallum added.
To learn more about the Baha’is go to bahai.org.