observe the annual festival of Ridvan over a 12 day period with great joy and fellowship.

The festival celebrates the proclamation of Baha'u'llah, the Prophet Founder of the faith, to his followers that he was God's messenger.

Baha'u'llah made his public proclamation during his stay in a garden in Baghdad, Iraq, which he called the "Garden of Ridvan'' which means paradise in Persian.

He stayed in the garden from April 21 to May 2, 1863.

The Baha'i faith teaches the oneness of God, the oneness of religion and the oneness of mankind. Baha'is believe that in every age, God sends a divine educator, a manifestation of God, whose purpose is to restate and renew the eternal truths of religion and to address the specific needs of each age.

They believe that Baha'u'llah is the manifestation of God for this age in mankind's evolution.

This "spiritual springtime'' as it is called in the Baha'i writings, when the efforts of all the previous messengers of God, such as Abraham, Moses, Buddah, Krishna, Zoroaster, Christ, Muhammad, and Baha'u'llah's prophet herald, the Bab, will blossom and bear their fruit.

Thus the occurrence of the Festival of Ridvan at the height of the spring season bears a special significance for Baha'is.

In his writings, Baha'u'llah promulgates the equality of men and women, the essential harmony of science and religion, the independent investigation of truth, economic justice based upon spiritual principles, the urgent need for the elimination of all forms of prejudice, universal compulsory education, an international auxiliary language, and a world Government for the maintenance of lasting peace.

In Baha'i communities where there are nine or more adults, members hold the annual election of their local administrative body on the first day of Ridvan.

The national Convention and election of the nine members of the national administrative body will take place April 27 to 29.