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The Bahá’í Calendar

The Bahá’í calendar, known as the Badí‘ calendar, was introduced by the Báb. Bahá’u’lláh confirmed and adopted this calendar, fixing its commencement at the year of the Báb’s declaration in 1844.

In a messageThe Universal House of Justice, 10 July 2014 regarding the universal implementation of the Badí‘ calendar, the Universal House of Justice states:

“The adoption of a new calendar in each dispensation is a symbol of the power of Divine Revelation to reshape human perception of material, social, and spiritual reality. Through it, sacred moments are distinguished, humanity’s place in time and space reimagined, and the rhythm of life recast.”

As the Bahá’í Era (designated B.E.) was inaugurated by twin Founders, the Bahá’í Holy Days include events related to the birth, declaration, and passing of both Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb.

This 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.

The Báb named each of the 19 months, listed below, 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.

Notes

    The Bahá’í calendar consists of:

    19
    months
    19
    Days in each month
    4–5
    Intercalary days
    Nineteen Bahá’í Months in

    Start of a Bahá’í Month

    Holy Day

    Significant Date

    1.
    1

    Bahá

    Splendour
    21 March 2023
    2.
    1

    Jalál

    Glory
    9 April 2023
    3.
    1

    Jamál

    Beauty
    28 April 2023
    4.
    1

    ‘Aẓamat

    Grandeur
    17 May 2023
    5.
    1

    Núr

    Light
    5 June 2023
    6.
    1

    Raḥmat

    Mercy
    24 June 2023
    7.
    1

    Kalimát

    Words
    13 July 2023
    8.
    1

    Kamál

    Perfection
    1 August 2023
    9.
    1

    Asmá’

    Names
    20 August 2023
    10.
    1

    ‘Izzat

    Might
    8 September 2023
    11.
    1

    Mashíyyat

    Will
    27 September 2023
    12.
    1

    ‘Ilm

    Knowledge
    16 October 2023
    13.
    1

    Qudrat

    Power
    4 November 2023
    14.
    1

    Qawl

    Speech
    23 November 2023
    15.
    1

    Masá’il

    Questions
    12 December 2023
    16.
    1

    Sharaf

    Honour
    31 December 2023
    17.
    1

    Sulṭán

    Sovereignty
    19 January 2024
    18.
    1

    Mulk

    Dominion
    7 February 2024
    Ayyám-i-Há
    Intercalary days
    26 February–29 February 2024
    19.
    1

    ‘Alá’

    Loftiness
    1 March 2024
    Bahá’í Holy Days
    180 B.E.
    Naw-Rúz
    21 March 2023
    First Day of Riḍván
    21 April 2023
    Ninth Day of Riḍván
    29 April 2023
    Twelfth Day of Riḍván
    2 May 2023
    Declaration of the Báb
    24 May 2023
    Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh
    29 May 2023
    Martyrdom of the Báb
    10 July 2023
    Birth of the Báb
    16 October 2023
    Birth of Bahá’u’lláh
    17 October 2023
    Significant Dates
    180 B.E.
    Day of the Covenant
    26 November 2023
    Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
    28 November 2023
    Bahá’í Fast
    1–19 March 2024

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