Ridván (meaning “Paradise” in Arabic) — is the most important of the Bahá’í Holy days. It is the period on which Bahá’u’lláh declared His mission as a Messenger of God.
It refers to the arrival of Bahá’u’lláh and His companions in the Najíbíyyih Garden outside the city of Baghdád, subsequently referred to by the Bahá’ís as the Garden of Riḍván. This event, which took place thirty-one days after Naw-Rúz,(March 20), on April 21, 1863, signaled the commencement of the period during which Bahá’u’lláh declared His Mission to His companions. In a Tablet, He refers to His Declaration as “the Day of supreme felicity” and He describes the Garden of Riḍván as “the Spot from which He shed upon the whole of creation the splendors of His Name, the All-Merciful.” Bahá’u’lláh wrote that this great announcement – the coming of a new Divine prophet to humanity, described as “the Tongue of the Ancient of Days”. Bahá’u’lláh spent twelve days in this Garden prior to departing for Istanbul, the place to which He had been banished. Baha’u’llah’s declaration of his mission to a few followers gave new inspiration to everyone around him, infusing the entire gathering in that garden of paradise with joy and life.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá described this period in this way: “ This time of the world may be likened to the equinoctial in the annual cycle. For, verily, this is the spring season of God.” Over the history of humankind there have been cycles of advancements and declines in civilization. One could liken them to the cycle of the seasons in the physical world. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is describing the same cyclic action occurring in the spiritual world or in the world of religious advancement and decline.
The story of Ridván that has been passed along speaks of the ten years Bahá’u’lláh lived in Baghdád after His first exile from Tehrán at the hands of the Sháh. He and his family made many friends among the residents and powerful authorities alike and His fame was spreading widely. The Sháh feared Bahá’u’lláh’s influence would harm his rule in Iran so he worked tirelessly to get Bahá’u’lláh expelled from Baghdád going so far as to petition the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire to get him removed. Thus, the order to leave for Istanbul. They had two weeks to prepare. All those who knew the family were very upset. While preparations to leave were underway Bahá’u’lláh took the friends to a park full of rose gardens and nightingales. He met with the friends to ease the pain of parting. He wrote and shared prayers and letters night and day. The friends were so enthralled they picked and scattered rose blossoms in front of His tent every morning. On the twelfth day, the family gathered together with all their belongings and left for the long trek to Istanbul with their friends lining the pathways, abject at their departure.
Today’s Bahá’ís recall this period as the beginning of the Bahá’í Faith as prophesized by the Báb’s Teachings.