Bahá'í Community Commemorates Martyrdom of Divya Bab with Blood Donation Drive
Commemoration of Divya Bab's Martyrdom
Children and young adults showcased their feelings about this significant day through cultural programs, songs, hymns, and dances. Prayers were offered, and sacred verses and writings revealed by Bab were recited. The president of the local spiritual assembly, Nejat Hegigat and Viyaz Alam Anant, delivered a lecture highlighting the life of Divya Bab, inspiring attendees with messages of sacrifice.
Anuj Anant, the secretary of the local spiritual assembly, shared insights about Divya Bab, who was born in Shiraz, Iran, in 1819. He announced that he came as a 'door' for a new manifestation, Bahá'u'lláh (1817-1892). The term 'Bab' translates to 'door'. Both Divya Bab and Bahá'u'lláh are referred to as 'Twin Manifestations' in the Bahá'í faith, sent to usher the world into an era of peace, love, and unity. Due to the growing popularity of Divya Bab and his transformative ideas, conservative religious leaders opposed him, leading to the brutal persecution and execution of over twenty thousand of his followers. Bab was imprisoned and exiled, and when that did not diminish the influence of his faith, he was martyred by firing squad on July 9, 1850, at the young age of 31. Nevertheless, the revolutionary religion he proclaimed has now spread globally as the Bahá'í faith. Notably, India has the largest population of Bahá'ís, with the 'Lotus Temple' in New Delhi serving as a prominent place of worship for the community. Divya Bab was the first manifestation to declare 'equality of men and women', and one of his early followers was the renowned poetess Tahira, who championed this principle.
Divya Bab's shrine is located in Haifa, Israel, where millions of devotees visit annually to draw inspiration from his life and offer prayers.