BAHA’IS (ORTHODOX) SET TO CELEBRATE THIS RIDVAN IN THE MOOD OF VICTORY OF COURT CASE

Ridvan, festival of the twelve day period, observed from sunset 20 April to sunset, 2 May. Baha’is throughout the world celebrate Baha'u'llah's announcement of his claim to the prophethood and His departure from Baghdad in 1863. The first, ninth and twelfth days of Ridvan are major Baha'i holy days on which Bahais exempt themselves from work.



The Baha’is under the Guardianship of Joel Bray Marangella, will celebrate this Ridvan in a special spirit. The Baha’I Administrative year 167 B.E is recorded as historical for the Orthodox Baha’is, Indian Orthodox Bahais are for historical Victory that the Court Action brought by the National Spiritual Assembly under the bogus Universal House of Justice, in the Court of Chicago, Illinois, USA, on November 16, 2006, has now finally concluded in their favor. The deadline for the NSA to file a petition for writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court was March 29, 2011. The deadline has come and gone therefore court decision in their favor is now final.


The nature of the court case filed by the above NSA that:


The NSA claims to be the owner of the following federal trademark registrations granted the United States Patent Office:


1. Arabic Symbol “The Greatest Name”.

2. National Spritual Assembly of the Bahais of United States.

3. Baha’i.

4. Baha u llah.

Conclusion:

The NSA obtained a Judgment against the NSA loyal to Mason Remey back in 1966 which prohibited that NSA from using the above "trademarks." The Court decided that the Orthodox Baha'is are not bound by the old Judgment. The Orthodox Baha'is asserts that:

"the Baha’i Faith is not a product that can be trademarked. It is a religion. An individual or a group cannot be the owner of the religion or religious terminology, and the Courts cannot decide religious controversies. Thus anybody who follows the teachings of the Bab, Baha u llah, Abdu’l Baha and Shoghi Effendi and follow the belief and the principles given them can call themselves Baha'is in the United States."

Nosrat’u’allah Bahremand in India

In this year the faithful friends also had the pleasure of meeting Hand of the Cause, the Vice President of Third International Baha’i Coucil, Mr. Nosrat’u’allah Bahremand as he travelled to India in September 2010.

Orthodox Baha’is celebrated the festival with devotionals and gatherings at the following places: 

1. Vasai Road, at the House of Mr. Rajendra Upadhyaye.

2. New Delhi, at the House of Mr. Vinod Kumar.

3. Lucknow, at the House of Mr. S. P. Pandey.

Happy Ridvan to All the Bahais irrespective of the sects.

Dr. A. Parikh, Secretary, National Baha'i Council of India.