Friday, November 25, 2011

My experiments with Bahá'í

Its Thursday today, the day of prayers...

Sitting uncomfortably on a plush sofa, I looked around and scanned everyone present at the gathering. They all smiled at me, and I immediately felt welcomed. Small conversation followed, most of it in Gujarati which I follow well now. I was asked a few polite questions, also asked if I wanted a cup of coffee, an offer I was highly tempted to accept but declined nevertheless. No one was even drinking water, and I knew there was dinner after the session.

Mrs. Chinubhai coordinated the prayers and explained the next course of events for the evening, perhaps more for my benefit. The Bahá'í prayer sessions usually take place in someone's house, they actually have very few places of worship so home usually turns into a temple.  Prayers usually start with a few people (you can also suggest your name) who sing a few songs, while other who know the lyrics can also join in. We prayed in three languages that day - Gujarati, English and Hindi, and this changes with wherever you are in the world. There are a set of books with prayers and Bahá'u'lláh's sayings, and different people read different sections from them. I was the new one and was given a huge section in English to read (about peace, war, destruction, humanity etc.). Usually afraid of any public reading, I faltered at regular intervals. I liked what I read, but was highly embarrassed with how.

The prayers are usually followed by dinner with the host and discussions, and often a cup of coffee before its time to say good bye. Its a time to socialize, and catch up on each others lives, and maybe offer help/ advice to some.

I was, of course, experimenting with the faith that evening. From the time Roshni had joined office, I was intrigued as I had never ever met anyone who followed the faith. Needless to say, this wasn't the last time I attend the prayer, and soon became a regular with them. But why? I really don't know as yet, there is something very pure and clean about the prayers, something completely unpretentious. No one expects anything from you, and even as a silent observer there is much to absorb.

Bahá'í faith started as a movement in the 19th Century Persia (modern day Iran) but its members were soon persecuted and had to flee to neighboring countries. The faith, however, survived all persecution and currently there are believed to be five to six million of them in about 200 countries across the globe. Read more about the faith here. India is one the countries where there are many followers, and can practice their beliefs without persecution. Unfortunately, in Iran, the country of their origin, they are still not recognized as a faith and have to live and pray in the hiding.



In India its most famous landmark is the Bahá'í Temple in New Delhi. I've been there as a kid, and all I remember now is silence (which was an unusual feeling for me a kid back then). I am sure a visit again would be more fruitful because I know so much more about the faith now.

Above is a collage of some of the images Roshni took of the temple recently. You can find more of her photography work here.

23 comments:

  1. This is very interesting. I was not aware of it. Sounds so relaxing and soul searching exercise to me. Thanks for sharing!

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  2. I wanted to learn Gujrati at a point of time. Badly so! I find it too sweet in its sound.
    Coming to the post, yes, I've been to the Bahai temple in Delhi and I love the serenity that sweeps over its interiors .. its mesmerizing and calming at the same time :)
    I remember the silence pretty profoundly too..
    And coming to think of it, I didn't know so much about the faith .. Thanks for the info!

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  3. Last december I had visited this place..Beautiful na and really LOTUS like. And Bahai inspired me a lot too. How these foreigners where folding thr hands and helping the crowd move on and sit silently inside tht majestic place..

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  4. @Saru: Absolutely, the prayer sessions are exactly like that, relaxing...

    @Crystal: Never met a non-Gujarati who wanted to learn Gujarati :) Its actually easy to understand as long as you are comfortable with Hindi...

    Even I had no clue about the religion till I started exploring it online...generally religion gets me really going and so am reading a little bit of Bahai scripture now...

    @RedHanded: I think it time for me to visit the place once again...been so many years!

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  5. one of the most gorgeous temples and yet I hardly find the time to go there even though I leave in the same city and not too far away :)

    gorgeous experiment,nevetheless :)

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  6. I felt a bit jealous :) I won't say why.... :)

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  7. @nil: Please do go and visit the place...am sure you would love it :)

    @Chintan: Now I am very very curious...batao batao!

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  8. "here is something very pure and clean about the prayers, something completely unpretentious. No one expects anything from you, and even as a silent observer there is much to absorb."

    This flows in my veins..too intriguing, needless to say.

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  9. @Stuti: It is, and yet really simple. The best thing about these prayer sessions is that its all so logical and makes perfect sense...

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  10. I went to the temple, last year, for the first time with a foreign colleague who was visiting Delhi...

    The most striking thing was...the peace and a calm. The rushed and hustle-bustle feeling which one gets while visiting a hindu temple (most of the times..) were not present. You could just sit there...and be at peace... :)

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  11. Chintan recommended your blog and I spent a lot of time on both your blogs today.Loved the experience.

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  12. Yeah, it is absolutely awesome :) I have been there last year. The inner sanctum of the Lotus temple is the most quite and serene place I have ever been to. The video footage of the temple's construction which they show in small theatre is very informative.

    Nice piece. I like it.

    hey, have u got the chance to go through Garcia's Memories of my melancholic whores.

    May I ask, what are you reading these days?? just a thought...

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  13. This post had a very calming feel to it and no, I didn't know anything about Bahai religion.

    It seems so simple and practical and yet so intricate and humble at the same time. Its hard to assign these adjectives to 'religion', you know?

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  14. Religion should be just this, calm, sensible and invoke the curiosity in a person. It should impart serenity to his life and make him want more, draw it to him. In this regard, this religion that you describe so well seems perfect. Hopefully one day, I'll get to experience it and be to that place:)

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  15. @Kunal: Absolutely, that's the beauty of the place...absolute calm!

    @Sharmila: Thanks so much, thanks to Chintan as well :)

    @Abhilasha: I am sure you loved the experience of visiting the temple :)

    As for the book, I am yet to read it! And thanks for reminding, I need to buy it soon :)

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  16. @Express: I agree, religion generally seems much more chaotic and complicated. Somehow I enjoy all kinds of religions, a calm Bahai faith or the very loud and chaotic Hinduism...they both have their own flavors :)

    @PeeVee: I hope so too, and am sure the experience would be memorable :)

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  17. Hi SIdhhartha, after reading your post, I am interested in Baha'i faith, I know that there's a baha'i centre in Ahmedabad somewhere but never have been there, even I searched internet but could not get solid results, it would be great if you could please share details on how to be a part of their prayer sessions here in Ahmedabad!

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    1. Hi Akash,There is a Baha'i center in ambawadi area in Ahmedabad, and we organize prayers every week,I could share the details with you, and you are most welcome to join the prayer sessions

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  18. This is really nice to know Akash :) My friend will from Ahmedabad who is also part of organizing these prayer sessions will certainly get in touch with you and tell you more about it soon...

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  19. Hi Siddhartha, amazing picture! Is is possible to steel it from you? :p
    I would love to make some frames in my living room!

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    1. Hey Anonymous, unfortunately the picture isn't mine, I took these from a friend and made into this collage. Btw if its for personal use, I would say...go ahead and frame it :)

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    2. Well, we have to admit that you know how to make a collage! Unfortunately I would need more pixels to post it in a big frame. Thank you, anyway :)
      Carla (Portugal)

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    3. I am really sorry Carla...this is all I have now. The big sized original is lost with the hard disk!

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