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They must promote by every means in their power the material as well as the spiritual enlightenment of youth, the means for the education of children, institute, whenever possible, Baha'i educational institutions, organize and supervise their work and provide the best means for their progress and development.. (117:2) They must undertake the arrangement of the regular meetings of the friends, the feasts and the anniversaries, as well as the special gatherings designed to serve and promote the social, intellectual and spiritual interests of their fellow-men (117:3) They must supervise in these days when the Cause is still in its infancy all Baha'i publications and translations, and provide in general for a dignified and accurate presentation of all Baha'i literature and its distribution to the general public. (117:4) The possibilities inherent in Baha'i institutions can only be estimated when one realizes how rapidly modern civilization is disintegrating for lack of that spiritual power which can alone supply the necessary attitude of responsibility and humility to the leaders and the requisite loyalty to the individual members of society. (117:5) Baha'i Feasts, Anniversaries, and Days of Fasting (117:6) Feast of Naw-Ruz (Baha'i New Year), March 21 (117:7) Feast of Ridvan (Declaration of Baha'u'llah), April 21-May 2 (117:8) Declaration of the Bab, May 23. (117:9) Ascension of Baha'u'llah, May 29 (117:10) Martyrdom of the Bab, July 9 (117:11) Birth of the Bab, October 20 (117:12) Birth of Baha'u'llah, November 12 (117:13) Day of the Covenant, November 26 (117:14) Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha, November 28 (117:15) Period of the Fast, nineteen days beginning March 2. (117:16) Feasts In a talk on the Feast of Naw-Ruz, in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1912, 'Abdu'l-Baha said: (117:18) In the sacred laws of God, in every cycle and dispensation there are blessed feasts, holidays and workless days. On such days all kinds of occupations, commerce, industry, agriculture, etc., should be suspended
(117:19)
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