Extraordinary Bicentennial Celebrations Come to a Close

The celebratory period marking the bicentenary of Baha’u’llah’s birth has come to a close.

During this past weekend, a broad cross-section of humanity in virtually every spot on the globe joined in a striking diversity of action to commemorate the birth of Baha’u’llah.

The festivities surrounding the bicentenary inspired countless individuals, moved by their encounters with the life and teachings of Baha’u’llah:

The essence of Baha’u’llah’s Teaching is all-embracing love, for love includeth every excellence of humankind. It causeth every soul to go forward. It bestoweth on each one, for a heritage, immortal life. Erelong shalt thou bear witness that His celestial Teachings, the very glory of reality itself, shall light up the skies of the world. – Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 66.

One of the more than 27,000 visitors who viewed an exhibit on the life of Baha’u’llah held in Frankfurt said, “My wife and I were just talking before we came here about how life was without purpose. But then we visited this exhibition. Here we have found the answer to our purpose in life.”

In Thailand, the Royal Family was represented by Princess Soamsawali at a bicentenary celebration held at the Bahá’í Centre in Bangkok. The evening’s programme featured music, prayers, and traditional Thai dances. The gathering was attended by nearly 250 participants and was one of many commemorations held in the country today. (from bicentenary.bahai.org)

In Suriname, Vice President Ashwin Adhin planned to attend a reception for the bicentenary held at the National Baha’i Centre. After a short program which included prayers, a film about the history of the Faith in Suriname, and a talk, he decided to cancel his plans so he would have time to speak with the Baha’is about community-building in the young country.

Message from the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau.

On the same day, the Baha’i community of Canada received a public message of good-will from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, one of the last of a wide array of such messages received in recent days from officials in many different nations around the world. Those official messages have been compiled here.

Celebrations throughout the world featured screenings of the film “Light to the World,” which tells the story of Baha’u’llah’s life and the impact of His teachings. A participant at a gathering in East Asia said, “After watching the film, everyone was saying ‘Baha’u’llah’ with so much ease and comfort … It was as if they had known Him for many years and He was a familiar Figure to them.”

At a national celebration in Madrid, one attendee said, “the message of Baha’u’llah is exactly what humanity needs. Listening to these principles is not just a matter of hearing a beautiful message, it is essential for the progress of the human race.”