October 2019 marks the month for the celebration of the Twin Holy Birthdays of the Twin Founders of the Baha’i Faith but this year holds special significance as the Baha’is will observe the Bicentenary of the Birth of the Bab who was born in 1819. In 2017 the Baha’i worldwide community celebrated the Bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, and two years later, this year, they observe the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab. Baha’is around the world have been holding diverse activities to mark this significant milestone in the lifetime of the present Baha’is throughout the globe.

Among the many activities the Baha’is of Bermuda will be observing - together with Baha’is around the world to mark the Bicentenary of the Birth of the Bab, 1819-2019, the Forerunner and Herald of the Baha’i Faith - will be a dramatic reading of the dynamic, short and turbulent life of the Bab who was born in Shiraz, Iran (then Persia), various receptions throughout the Baha’i localities in Bermuda, presentations to the Mayors of the City of Hamilton and the Towne of St. George, walks and a host of other events not only over the two Holy Days but throughout the year.

The National Spiritual Assembly of Baha’is of Bermuda today presented a gift to the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Hamilton of Bermuda’s national tree, a Bermuda cedar tree, planted in the City as a symbol of the island’s beauty, durability and resilience following the uprooting of many trees by Hurricane Humberto.

Mayor Gosling welcomed the symbolic planting of the cedar tree in Victoria Park, named after Queen Victoria who was also born in the same year, 1819, thus making this year her bicentenary too. By coincidence Queen Victoria was born on the 24 May, the same day the Bab declared his mission in Shiraz in 1844, thus marking the beginning of the Baha’i Faith when the Bab prepared his followers for the coming of Baha’u’llah.

Mayor Gosling remarked of the planting, ‘The City is honoured to recognize this auspicious occasion and provide the new home for this cedar sapling here in Victoria Park. The Baha’is have been our neighbours here in Hamilton for over 40 years and it’s truly humbling to be asked to share in their bicentenary in this way. The Bermuda Cedar is a strongman of trees. It is durable, dependable, has longevity. It’s history here in Bermuda is a noble one and I can think of no other more appropriate tree to mark this celebration.’

The Bab was born Siyyid Ali Muhammad but he assumed the title of the Bab which in Arabic means Gate, that he was the Gate leading to the coming of Baha’u’llah, Arabic for the Glory of God.

The international governing body of the Baha’i Faith, the Universal House of Justice has commissioned a special film titled ‘Dawn of the Light’ which can be seen at the Baha’i National Centre on Thursday, October 31st at 7pm. The Centre is located at 8 Brunswick Street and the doors will open at 6:30pm for refreshments. The film be shown promptly at 7pm and run for about 45 minutes.

Every Thursday the Baha’i National Centre is open for a variety of presentations and discussions on community-building efforts, how we in Bermuda can unite, consult on the major issues perplexing our community and contribute to building a better Bermuda - materially, economically and spiritually.

The Baha’i faith provides programmmes and opportunities for the spiritual education of children, the empowering of junior youth and and for the exploration of the Scriptures for adults on such subjects as the Reflection of the Life of the Spirit, Life and Death - that the betterment of the world can be accomplished through good and kindly deeds.

Highlights of the history of the Baha’i faith in Bermuda:

• 1948 Arrival of the first Baha’i in Bermuda from North America

• 1949 First Bermudian to embrace the faith whilst a student in Canada, the late Bryan Burland

• 1953 Establishment of the first Baha’i administrative institution in Bermuda

• 1958 Incorporation of that first administrative institution the Spiritual Assembly

• 1970 Incorporation of the Bermuda Baha’i Marriage Act

• 1972 Hosting of the first International Teaching Conference at the Hamilton Princess Hotel

• 1976 Acquisition of the Baha’i Centre in the City of Hamilton

• 1981 First National Baha’i Convention to elect the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Bermuda

• 1983 Bermuda’s first participation in the International Baha’i convention in the Holy Land to

elect the Universal house of Justice which occurs every five years

• 1985 Incorporation of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Bermuda

• 1998 Official opening of the renovated Baha’i National Centre by the Governor of Bermuda

• Press release from the City of Hamilton