Ridvan 177 B.E. (April 21st - May 2nd)

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Ridvan is a twelve day period special to Baha'is... It celebrates the announcement by Baha'u'llah that He fulfilled the expectation of the His Predecessor the Bab that He was " Him Whom God would make manifest".

The Ridvan period is twelve days from April 21st to May 2nd each year. The first, ninth and twelfth days of Ridvan are Holy Days for Baha'is on which work and school attendance are suspended

Baha'u'llah had been in exile from Persia from 1853 and was directed to Baghdad in the Ottoman Empire at the time... Eventually Persian authorities requested the Ottoman Sultan to move Baha'u'llah as they felt He was too close to their sites of pilgrimage near Baghdad. Baha'u'llah then left His House in Baghdad and stayed temporarily for twelve days near the Tigris River in what was then the Ridvan Garden. The Sultan had ordered Him to travel to Istanbul (Constaninople).

John Walbridge has written a detailed account of the Ridvan Festival:

Ridvan

Read more:

Ridvan – The Greatest Baha’i Festival

Baha'i Institutions are also elected April 21st the start of the Ridvan Festival... Local Spiritual Assemblies in various jurisdictions are elected and a National Convention is held to elected the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly.

This year due to the virus... and various restrictions on gatherings there will be more "absentee" voting permitted. The National Convention has been cancelled. Delegates have already been selected from voting in the Unit Conventions last October and they in turn will select the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly.

 

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Actually this year Ridvan will be celebrated starting March 20th rather than March 21st and this year at least in my community there won't be gatherings due to the virus issues this year.

But the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette Illinois is offering programs starting April 20th.

Broadcasts will be released at the following times:

First Day of Ridvan: Monday, April 20, 3:00 pm CDT

Ninth Day of Ridvan: Tuesday, April 28, 12:30 pm CDT

Twelfth Day of Ridvan: Friday, May 1, 12:30 pm CDT

BROADCAST LINKS AVAILABLE HERE
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Ridvan (pronounced Rezvan) means “Paradise” in Arabic. The Festival of Ridvan commemorates the announcement by Baha’u’llah in 1863 that He is the Promised One of all religions and the Manifestation of God for this era. Baha’u’llah’s teachings, particularly the concept of the oneness of humanity, are the basis of the Baha’i Faith.

Already exiled from Iran, Baha’u’llah had been living in Baghdad when word came that He was to be again banished by the leaders of the Ottoman Empire. Prior to this further exile, He set up a tent in the Garden of Ridvan outside the city on the Tigris River, where for 12 days He received friends and family.

Three of these 12 days are specially observed:
--The first day celebrates Baha’u’llah’s arrival in the Garden accompanied by a few of His friends and family.
--The ninth day marks the arrival of more of His family members.
--The twelfth day commemorates His caravan’s departure to Constantinople (present-day Istanbul).