200^th anniversary of Prophet Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Bahá’í Faith

Press Release issued by Ms. Carmel M. Tripathi, Director, Public Information, Baha’i Office of Public Affairs.

New Delhi, 12 October, 2017: Inspired by the life and teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, the Prophet Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, millions of people worldwide will celebrate the 200^th anniversary of His birth on the 21^st and 22^nd of October 2017.

The Bahá’í House of Worship in New Delhi, popularly known as the ‘’Lotus Temple’’ is considered as India’s symbol of communal harmony by the Government of India. It is a monument dedicated to the unity of God, unity of all religions and unity of humankind.

Bahá’u’lláh, the Prophet Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, was born in Tehran in 1817. Since the inception of the Bahá’í Faith in the Nineteenth Century, a growing number of people have found in the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh a compelling vision of a better world. Many have drawn insights from these teachings—the oneness of humanity, the equality of women and men, the elimination of prejudice and the harmony of science and religion. The central theme of Bahá’u’lláh’s message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for its unification into one global society.

India has been associated with the Bahá’í Faith right from its inception in 1844. Today, over 2 million Bahá’ís representing the great diversity of the Indian nation live in every state in over 10,000 localities. Presently, India comprises of one of the largest Bahá’í populations in the world.

Prime Minister Modi in his letter to the Bahá'í community of India on the occasion of the 200^thyear anniversary of the birth of Bahá‘u’lláh wrote: “Bahá'í Faith gives the world a vision of universal brotherhood...Its messages of love and respect aim to make the world a beautiful place that celebrates harmony and peace.”

He also wrote: “Since the revelation of the Prophet Bahá'u'lláh, Bahá'í Faith has found wholehearted acceptance in India, where one of its most dynamic communities has flourished since then.” And he further commented that institutions such as the Bahá'í House of Worship- referred to as the Lotus Temple- “epitomize” the “spirit of fellowship and universal brotherhood.”

President Ram Nath Kovind, addressing his message to the Bahá'ís, writes, “India’s well-being depends on the ever greater commitment among its citizens to the principle of unity and diversity...The exertions of the Bahá'í community offer hope that the goal of oneness can be achieved.”

The Baha’i Community of New Delhi, India will be celebrating the bicentennial of the birth of Baha’u’llah at the Baha’i Lotus Temple on the following dates:

·         Sunday, 15^th October 2017, 6:30 p.m. onwards

·         Friday, 20^th October 2017, 6:30 p.m. onwards

·         Saturday, 21^st October 2017, 6:30 p.m. onwards

·         Saturday, 4^th November 2017, 10:00 a.m. onwards