Do Baha`i 's have anykind of food restrictions ?

Maheen...

Thanks for posting your question!

Baha'is have no restrictions as to food..unless it is between sunrise and sunset during our Nineteen Day Fast which occurs prior to Naw-Ruz (March 21st).

- Art

__________________
"it benefits us to be thoughtful, not of the glory of our minds, but rather, above all else, of the glory of God."
- Johannes Kepler

How many hours does the fast last?
(As you must be aware the muslims fast from a little before sunrise to sunset)

Do you have any clebrations end of the 19 days ?
(Muslims have Eid after the month long Ramazan)

Oh may be you celebrate Nauroze !?
Most Persian based religions celebrate Nauroze .... Parsi's do it i know .

Best wishes & much love,
Maheen

Thanks for the questions!

Generally it goes like this:

The Baha'i Fast is from sunrise to sunset and so the times of the fast may vary according to the longitude/latitude and so on... but roughly say between 6 AM and 6 PM or twelve hours. As our Fast always occurs near the Vernal Equinox March 21st it is the same each year. In areas like near the poles the Baha'is use a clock or watch roughly between 6 AM and 6 PM.

The fast is from solids and liquids... If there is illness or one is travelling there are exemptions...Women in their courses are exempt. Those who have to do very heavy labor are exempt. We do not have "make-ups" that is we are not required to fast later if we miss a day...

The Fast ends with the Baha'i New Year March 21st or the Vernal Equinox which is also the ancient Persian New Year and the beginning of Spring. The Baha'i Calendar begins March 21st and has nineteen months (named after attributes of God) with nineteen days (also named after attributes of God) in each month. The Baha'i Era began in 1844 or 1260 AH.

Naw-Ruz for us is a community celebration of the end of the fast and New Years Day and is a Holy Day on which work and school is suspended.

The Bab is credited with setting up the "Badi Calendar" and there have been a few additions to the calendar since it was revealed by the Bab. Here is an overview of the Baha'i Calendar:

http://www.lvbahai.org/calendar_and_holy_days.htm

- Art

__________________
"it benefits us to be thoughtful, not of the glory of our minds, but rather, above all else, of the glory of God."
- Johannes Kepler

Thank you for the link.

We have similar attributes of Allah but the muslim calender is of 12 months with lunar days .But our calender months are not named after the attributes of God.

How are the 19 months divided, into how many days ?

Much love,
Maheen

Hello Maheen!

The Baha'i Calendar is solar so we have a 365 1/4 day year.

So each month is 19 days and 19 months make 361 days... 4 or 5 days if there is a "leap year" make the 365 day year...or 366 if it is a leap year.

We call these 4 0r 5 days "Ayyam-i-Ha" or Intercalary Days and they occur before our month of fasting. We have parties and gift giving during these days.

Most of our Holy Days are also set according to the solar calendar but in the east the Birthdays of the Bab and Baha'u'llah are observed using lunar reckoning which means they are one day apart...as I recall. But this is something that will be resolved in the future.

Baha'i day begins and ends at sunset.

- Art

__________________
"it benefits us to be thoughtful, not of the glory of our minds, but rather, above all else, of the glory of God."
- Johannes Kepler

Boy its so sweet to have 19 days in a month and 19 months in a year.

Thank you for the answers its very informative.
I really appreciate your time & help.

Much love,

Maheen

Anytime Maheen... Nice to read your posts and respond with you!!!

- Art

__________________
"it benefits us to be thoughtful, not of the glory of our minds, but rather, above all else, of the glory of God."
- Johannes Kepler