Earth Day & the Bahá’i Festival of Ridván (Paradise)
Dr. A. K. Merchant*
The theme adopted this year for Earth Day 2026 is Our Power, Our Planet, which is observed each year on 22nd April. Humanity is being called upon to focus on empowering individuals and communities to accelerate the transition to renewable energy and demand environmental action, despite the all-pervasive reality the world is sorely lagging behind the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. One is reminded of the words of Bahá’u’lláh, Founder of the Bahá’i Faith: “…ye walk on My earth complacent and self-satisfied, heedless that My earth is weary of you and everything within it shunneth you…” Elsewhere in His Writings He wrote that the true devotees of the Divine “in whatever place they gather and whomsoever they may meet, must evince, in their attitude towards God, and in the manner of their celebration of His praise and glory, such humility and submissiveness that every atom of the dust beneath their feet may attest the depth of their devotion…They should conduct themselves in such manner that the earth upon which they tread may never be allowed to address to them such words as these: “I am to be preferred above you…. I am the instrument that continually imparteth unto all beings the blessings which hath been entrusted to me… Behold the measure of my humility, witness with what absolute submissiveness I allow myself to be trodden beneath the feet of men.”…
Coincidentally, Earth Day falls during the Festival of Ridván or Paradise, spanning 12 days starting 21st April and concluding 2nd May. During these days while still in exile in Baghdad (1863) and Bahá’u’lláh was issued the summons by the then King of the Ottoman Empire, to proceed with his family to Istanbul (then Constantinople). In midst of preparation for an arduous journey destined to span some 3 months, before His departure He was allowed to stay in a Garden that was named Riḍván (Paradise). There was consternation among His followers, their Well-Beloved, would be leaving them. However, they were assured, as anticipated by many, that He was One prophesied in the Sacred Scriptures of religions aka dharma whose divine mission would inaugurate a new era in human history.
Today more than 160 years later Bahá’u’lláh’s life and mission are becoming increasingly well-known across the planet, including India. Millions of people are involved in the educational programs learning to apply His teachings to their individual and collective lives for the betterment of the world. Bahá'u'lláh’s Writings, numbering over 100 volumes, of which just two quotations were cited above in connection with Earth Day, cover every conceivable topic pertaining to life on earth and even beyond. The originals as well as the translations in some 800+ languages can be easily accessed by the generality of world population.
Concern for the plight of the earth is reflected in numerous ways by peoples of different cultures in different ways, particularly in India, one of the only 2 living civilizations. With a reservoir of ancient knowledge systems, its large young population from diverse backgrounds, brimming with creativity and talent, should set the examples for living in harmony with Nature. As for the Earth Day observance, long before the climate crises and global warming became buzz words since the adoption of Earth Charter at Rio de Janeiro in 1992, John McConnell, an American peace activist proposed to UNESCO at a conference in 1969 to honour the Earth and shared his concept of peace to be celebrated on 21st March, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. While this received the approval of the Secretary General of the United Nations U Thant, what is now universally celebrated as Earth Day is the initiative of Senator Gaylord Nelson who proposed 22nd April in 1970. In 1990, Earth Day became a globally observed activity, sometimes even treated as Earth Week, an entire week of activities.
The above parallels very well with the 12-day Festival of Riḍván. Besides festivities on 1st, 9th, and 12th days, there are a variety of service activities such as establishment of grassroot institutions of the Bahá’i Administrative Order, known as local Spiritual Assemblies; through an Annual Convention in respective countries the National Spiritual Assemblies formed. Once every 5 years, through an International Bahá’í Convention, a global governing council, known as the Universal House of Justice, is elected. All members of these consultative bodies are elected by secret ballot.
“My object,” Bahá’u’lláh proclaimed to the multitudes who have recognized Him, “is none other than the betterment of the world and the tranquillity of its peoples…” The appearance of every divine Educator, as recorded in the Sacred Texts of the world’s great Faiths, is a pivotal event that propels the advancement of civilization. All nations will become one, all religions will be unified. Present-day polarization caused by artificial barriers of races, castes, countries, divisive politics, languages and what-have-you, has to disappear, and all humankind would attain new heights of prosperity, peace and tranquility.
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*The author is a social worker, independent researcher, & member of the Bahá’i Community of India. Views expressed are personal.