The Festival of Ridvan (pronounced Riz-wan) celebrates the days from April 21st to May 2nd, 1863.  Beside a river called the Tigris is a city named Baghdad.  Baha'u'llah had been living in that city for ten years, since His exile from Persia in 1853.  In Baghdad, as everywhere He went, the people who knew Him had grown to love Him.  

The government and religious leaders in Baghdad were jealous of the devotion the people showed Baha'u'llah, so they decided to exile Him further, to Constantinople, hoping the people of Baghdad would forget their love for Him.  

The people of Baghdad were distraught and wanted to say good-bye.  So many people came to Baha'u'llah's home that His family could not get ready to move, so Baha'u'llah went to stay on an island in the Tigris River so that there would be more room to receive visitors. 

He and His visitors camped in tents in a beautiful garden  called Ridvan (or Paradise).  It was spring and roses lined the walkways.  Nightingales sang all night long.  The gardener piled roses so high in Baha'u'llah's tent that the visitors could not see over it. 

In this beautiful garden, Baha'u'llah told His visitors that He was the Promised One of All Ages, the Messenger of God promised to all of the peoples of the world in all of their Holy Books.  Rejoice!

adapted from "The Festival of Ridvan" in Brilliant Star Magazine