They are one of the smallest religions in Singapore, but the Bahá’í faith is rich in history, culture, and a powerful message of unity. Join Risa as she experiences Ridván - The King Of Festivals, and also to witness a very sacred act in this lesser-known religion.
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00:00We are exploring the rich spectrum of beliefs that shape our cultural landscape.
00:06From ancient practices to contemporary expressions of faith,
00:10delve into the vibrant tapestry of rituals, customs and spiritual narratives flourishing in Singapore.
00:18With just over 2,000 believers, the Baha'i faith is one of the smallest recognised religions in Singapore.
00:34I've received an invite to observe a very special day in the Baha'i calendar.
00:39Looks like there are a lot of people here.
00:43I think people are starting to stream in and they're starting to take their attendance and they're mingling as well.
00:49So it looks like I better go find myself a seat in the auditorium.
00:59Today marks the start of the most important festival, Rizwan, also known as the King of Festivals.
01:07I am not familiar with this faith, but something I am very curious about is their scripture.
01:14You know, where they derive their teachings from.
01:18So that's something I'm really looking forward to finding out more about today.
01:21Thank you for joining us for this joyous Rizwan celebration.
01:25We will now begin this afternoon's celebration with devotional.
01:29We will now begin this afternoon's celebration with devotional.
01:52Today's celebration includes skits, singing and readings.
01:57And they are helping me understand what Rizwan is about.
02:02Rizwan, or Paradise, was a garden in which the faith's founder, Baha'u'llah,
02:07first declared himself as the promised manifestation of God.
02:16Now they have started singing the song in Mandarin.
02:19So they actually create all four official languages in Singapore.
02:27It's very, very interesting and very inclusive as well.
02:30They always include an English translation as well on the screen,
02:34so you can follow even if you don't speak the language that they are singing.
02:50It is great to see everyone here.
02:52It is a great opportunity for us to visit the home in this neighbourhood
02:57and celebrate together the festival of Rizwan.
03:03We are at the end of the performances and the presentations.
03:07But right now, everybody is gathering to take a big group photo.
03:12I have been asked to join the photo.
03:14So I'm going to find a spot in the centre.
03:17So I'm going to find a spot in the centre and put on a big smile.
03:28Okay, so we've reached the end of the celebration for today.
03:31Everybody is now heading out to have some high tea and to mingle with one another.
03:35I kind of have an idea about what Rizwan is about.
03:38But let's go find some people outside and find out more.
03:48Alright, so we have here with us Riz Buka, Ariana and Pao Ying.
03:52They are going to be telling us a little bit more about the Rizwan Festival.
03:56So Pao Ying, could you give us a little bit of a backstory into the festival?
04:00Basically, Rizwan means paradise.
04:03The Rizwan Festival is considered the king of festivals in the Baha'i faith.
04:06It spans across 12 days.
04:09On the first day, it involves Baha'u'llah reaching the Garden of Rizwan.
04:13On the 9th day is when the rest of the family joins him.
04:16And on the 12th day is when he leaves the Garden.
04:19But throughout these 12 days, it's a time of spiritual rejuvenation.
04:23And it was really just a time of togetherness and love and unity.
04:28And so we just experienced the first day of Rizwan Festival.
04:32Can you tell us more about how it's celebrated on the other 11 days of the festival?
04:37Well, something important that happens on the first day is Baha'is hold elections
04:42for their local spiritual assembly.
04:44And for me, this was actually my first time being able to vote since I'm 18 now.
04:49And that is a very important spiritual process for us.
04:52Because for us, elections are, oh, I'm the best.
04:54There's not really any campaigning or nominations.
04:57You choose the nine people who you think will be most capable
05:01and will be willing to do the most service for the community around them.
05:06Okay. Well, thank you very much for sharing everything with us.
05:10So far, Rizwan has been very different from what I was expecting.
05:14While today has been informative, I'm looking forward to tomorrow
05:17as I'm going to observe a very sacred process in the Baha'i faith.
05:27Baha'is 18 and older are eligible to vote for their local spiritual assemblies
05:32and also for the delegates who will represent them here.
05:37So the elections are usually a closed-door event.
05:40But if we can earn permission to observe the proceedings today.
05:45Dear delegates, before we begin the election process,
05:49we would like the leaders to get permission from the guardians
05:54with regards to the Baha'i election.
05:57So, O Lord, render victorious thy forbearing servants.
06:03Every year, delegates cast their votes for who they think are best suited
06:08to serve in the National Spiritual Assembly.
06:11A nine-member council tasked with overseeing the affairs
06:15of the Baha'i community in each country.
06:23The elections are about to begin.
06:25They'll be calling out the individual names
06:28and then they'll be casting their ballots.
06:32Voting is a sacred act in the Baha'i faith.
06:36The 19 delegates present have earlier submitted their votes.
06:39But before the actual voting happens,
06:41they are given five minutes to make changes.
07:03Ms Susie Wong.
07:05Ms Darabal Keith-Jones.
07:08Mr Bhanu Chien.
07:11And last but not least, Mr Nick Liew.
07:18Just like that, the last vote is cast.
07:28Here's East and then here's Central Darabals
07:31and then here's West.
07:33So, each locality has a local spiritual assembly.
07:37So, of course, everybody, all the Baha'is who live within that locality
07:42will then be the ones who will elect the members
07:46of the local spiritual assembly.
07:48We can only elect people who are living within Singapore.
07:52So, they might be visitors who are coming from another country
07:55but if they are not part of the Singapore community,
07:59then they cannot be elected on the national spiritual assembly.
08:03Can you tell us more about the national convention?
08:06So, the national convention is a process where community members,
08:10we are called delegates, we attend the convention
08:14and then we are electing the national spiritual assembly.
08:17One of the main principles of the faith is about unity.
08:20So, we want to maintain unity.
08:22You realise that there's no parties,
08:26like a political party of sorts.
08:28And so, we have witnessed in many different places
08:32when there's some allegiance to certain kinds of parties,
08:35then that brings up division, which is not what we believe in.
08:39It doesn't fit with the principles of the faith.
08:42And then the tendency of, of course, putting down other people,
08:45which also doesn't promote unity as well.
08:48So, that's why there's no campaigning of sorts.
08:51So, in order to get to know them, of course,
08:53it's not by going around saying,
08:54oh, what kind of person you are?
08:56You know, what do you do?
08:57And, and stuff like that.
08:59But it's more about serving together.
09:01So, when we serve together, either, you know,
09:05through some of the activities,
09:07it could be prayer meetings together
09:09or the conversations that we have as a community.
09:12That's how we get to know one another.
09:14And then from that process, we will then decide, you know,
09:17who are the people that we would like to elect
09:20on this nine-member institution.
09:23And whether, you know, they have the qualities
09:26that we would regard as suitable
09:28for the National Spiritual Assembly.
09:31Thank you so much, Michelle, for your time
09:33and for giving us so much more information
09:35about the Baha'is and the community here.
09:43So, they've just finished counting the votes for the election
09:47and we're about to hear the results now.
09:51I will now announce the new members
09:54for the National Spiritual Assembly for BE181.
09:58Number one, Lani Chu.
10:02Number two, Kodek Nguyen.
10:06Number three, Kay Ibengo.
10:11Fourth member, Kaxin Sha.
10:15Fifth member...
10:17So, over the past two days, I've had the privilege
10:21of learning more about the Baha'i faith
10:23as well as interacting with some members of their community.
10:26I hope you've had the chance to learn a thing or two
10:29about them as well.