The Badi calendar, also known as the Badi or Baha’i calendar, is a religious calendar used by the Baha’i Faith, a monotheistic religion that originated in the 19th century. The Baha’i Faith was founded by Baha’u’llah in the mid-19th century, and its teachings emphasize the unity of all religions and the oneness of humanity. The Badi calendar is one of the distinctive features of the Baha’i Faith.

Here are some key features of the Badi calendar:

  1. Unique Structure: The Badi calendar is a solar calendar, as opposed to many other religious calendars that are lunar-based. It consists of 19 months of 19 days each, resulting in 361 days in a year. The remaining four or five days, depending on whether it’s a leap year, are designated as “Intercalary Days” and added to the calendar’s end. This structure is intended to symbolize the unity and harmony among all peoples and religions.
  2. Nineteen-Day Months: Each month in the Badi calendar is named after an attribute of God. The names of the months are in Arabic, and they are as follows: Bahá (Splendor), Jalál (Glory), Jamál (Beauty), ʻAẓamat (Grandeur), Núr (Light), Raḥmat (Mercy), Kalimát (Words), Kamál (Perfection), Asmáʾ (Names), ʻIzzat (Might), Mashíyyat (Will), ʻIlm (Knowledge), Qudrat (Power), Qawl (Speech), Masáʾil (Questions), Sharaf (Honour), Sultán (Sovereignty), Mulk (Dominion), Ayyám-i-Há (Intercalary Days) and Alá’ (Loftiness).
  3. Leap Year: To keep the calendar in sync with the solar year, the Baha’i Faith has a provision for a leap year. An extra day is added to the calendar in a leap year, making it 366 days. This happens every four years, similar to the Gregorian calendar.
  4. Badi New Year: The Baha’i New Year, also known as Naw-Ruz, is celebrated on the vernal equinox (around March 20 or 21), marking the beginning of the Badi calendar year. Naw-Ruz is one of the nine holy days in the Baha’i Faith, and it is a time for community gatherings, reflection, and celebration.
  5. Baha’i Holy Days: The Badi calendar also designates specific holy days and festivals, such as the Birth of Baha’u’llah and the Birth of the Báb, as well as the Declaration of the Báb, which is a day dedicated to the announcement of the mission of the Báb. Baha’is gather for special prayers and commemorations on these days.

The Badi calendar is a unique and symbolic calendar designed to reflect the teachings of the Baha’i Faith, particularly the concepts of unity and the oneness of humanity. It is used by Baha’is around the world for their religious and community life.