The build-up to the fast "is very similar to Christmas," says Meyer, who hosted an Intercalary Days party at her Centerville home Thursday. "It's a time of joyful celebration."
It's also a chance to express gratitude for religious freedom, especially by more than 100 recent Bahai refugees from Iran. After all, many of their fellow believers are not so lucky.
Nearly a half-million Bahais have been systematically persecuted by the Iranian government in the past 20 years, according to the official Web site, bahai.org. More than 200 Bahais have been executed or killed, hundreds more have been imprisoned, and tens of thousands have been deprived of jobs, pensions, businesses and educational opportunities.
In December, the United Nations passed a resolution expressing "serious concern" over the worsening situation of human rights in Iran, mentioning Bahais specifically. It was the 20th time since 1985 that the United Nations expressed such concern, the Web site reported.
It is not surprising that thousands of Bahais have fled the country. What is amazing is how many have ended up in Utah.
Salt Lake City is one of a handful of "portal cities" for political refugees, says Jan Saeed, one of the leaders among Utah Bahais.
Many of the Iranian refugees come with little or no education, money or English. Catholic Community Services helps as much as it can, but Utah Bahais often pitch in as Farsi interpreters, drivers and tutors.
"Bahais in Iran are not allowed to attend schools, work or meet for worship," Saeed says. "They come here seeking opportunities and hope."
The Bahai movement began in 1844 in what was then known as Persia (modern-day Iran). It was founded by Mirza Husayn Ali, a nobleman from Tehran who became known as Baha'u'llah, which means "Glory of God." He was a divine messenger, he said, but only the latest in a long line that included Abraham, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Christ and Muhammad.
His message was that God is one and all religions have truth, an idea that rulers of the time found heretical.
Today, Bahai houses of worship have nine sides and nine doors to symbolize the many paths to God, who they say is continuously being revealed to humanity. They preach equality of the sexes, the elimination of extreme poverty and wealth, universal education, the harmony of science and religion, a sustainable balance between nature and technology, and the establishment of a world federal system based on collective security and the oneness of humanity.
The Bahai faith came to the United States in 1898 through a Lebanese convert and immigrant. Bahais now number about 5 million worldwide, 100,000 in America and more than 600 in Utah, Saeed says.
The Bahai annual fast resembles Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, during which believers forgo food from sunup to sundown. Both spend the days in prayer, meditation and giving to the poor. But the Bahai celebration has a fixed date, while Ramadan moves around the calendar based on the cycles of the moon.
Going without food during the day is an excellent spiritual discipline, says Joyce Booman, a longtime member of Salt Lake City's Bahai community.
"When your hand is reaching for that snack, this gets you to think twice," she says. "It's a physical reminder that we should be joyful and remember God's bounty. It shows us, too, how much we do munch in this country."
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* PEGGY FLETCHER STACK can be contacted at pstack@sltrib.com or 801-257-8725. Send comments about this story to religioneditor@sltrib.com.
Annual Bahai Celebration
* The last month in the Bahai calendar, March 2-20, is dedicated to the fast. During this time, Bahais between 15 and 70 years of age do not eat or drink for 19 days from sunrise to sunset and set aside time for prayer and meditation. Exemptions from the fast occur for illness, pregnancy, nursing mothers, extended travel and arduous physical labor.
* Ayyam-i-ha, or "Days of Ha," or Intercalary Days (Feb. 26-March 1), are devoted to spiritual preparation for the fast, celebrating, hospitality, charity and gift giving. * Naw-Rúz (March 21): The Bahai New Year's Day is astronomically fixed to begin the year on the spring equinox. Naw-Rúz is one of the nine holy days of the year when work is suspended.
Source: bahai.org
