The 12th Day of Riḍván
Give me to drink of the river that is life indeed, whose waters have streamed forth from the Paradise (Ridvan) in which the throne of Thy Name, the All-Merciful, was established, that mine eyes may be opened, and my face be illumined, and my heart be assured, and my soul be enlightened, and my steps be made firm.
~ Baha’u'llah, Baha’i Prayer
In this, the last day of Ridvan, we commemorate when Baha’u’llah left the garden as a prophet of God and his true work began. He had already been a spiritual leader and a follower of the The Báb, but it was during his time waiting in the Garden of Ridvan outside of Baghdad before leaving for Constantinople that his days as a manifestation, as the “Him Whom God shall make manifest” began. Although it was on the first day that his proclamation began, I find the 12th day to be just as spiritually uplifting because it celebrates when Baha’u’llah left the garden to spread forth God’s message.