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From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium

The Bahá'í or Badí calendar is followed by members of the Bahá'í Faith in their religious life.

The year

The start of the Bahá'í year is fixed to March 21st in the Gregorian calendar. Leap years thus follow the same pattern as Gregorian leap years. The Bahá'í year 1 began in 1844, marking the start of Babism.

Months and days

The year contains 19 months of 19 days each, each of which has a Persian name representing an aspet of God:

1. Bahá (Splendor)
2. Jalál (Glory)
3. Jamál (Beauty)
4. 'Azamát (Grandeur)
5. Núr (Light)
6. Rahmat (Mercy)
7. Kalimát (Words)
8. Kamál (Perfection)
9. Asmá' (Names)
10. 'Izzat (Might)
11. Mashiyyat (Will)
12. 'Ilm (Knowledge)
13. Qudrat (Power)
14. Qawl (Speech)
15. Masá'il (Questions)
16. Sharaf (Honor)
17. Sultán (Sovereignty)
18. Mulk (Dominion)
19. 'Alá (Loftiness)

The 19 days of each month also use the same series of names.

To round the year out to 365 (or 366) days, four (or five) epagomenal or intercalary days are inserted between Mulk and 'Alá. These days are known as Ayyám-i-Há.

Dates of holy days

• Naw-Rûz: 1 Bahá - The Bahá'í New Year
• Riḍván: 13 Jalál-5 Jamál - Commemorates the beginning of the prophethood of Bahá'u'lláh
• Declaration of the Báb: 7 'Azamát
• Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh: 13 'Azamát
• Martyrdom of the Báb: 16 Rahmat
• Birth of the Báb: 5 'Ilm
• Birth of Bahá'u'lláh: 9 Qudrat
• 'Alá - This entire month is reserved for fasting

Ayyám-i-Há is a time of general celebration and gift-giving, but not, strictly speaking, a holy time.