The Shrine of the Bab, one of the Baha'i holy sites, in Haifa, Israel.

Photo by Flickr user Bassi Baba

The Baha’is of Washtenaw County, part of a religion numbering some 5 million worldwide, began a major holy period Feb. 26 to March 21 with preparation, 19 days of daytime fasting and the Baha'i New Year.

Between Feb. 26 and March 1, Baha'is enjoyed a period of celebration, hospitality, charity and gift giving, with a family celebration and brunch at the Baha'i Center of Washtenaw County last Sunday.

From March 2-20, Baha'i faithful between ages 15 and 70 observe their annual 19-day fast by refraining from eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset, according to the United States Baha'i's official website. As in many world religions, the fast is "a time for reflecting on one's spiritual progress and making an effort to detach from material desires."

During the fasting period, Baha'is rise before dawn to eat breakfast and pray. At sunset, they break the fast with a customary meal, often shared with friends. Fasting exemptions are made for illness, pregnancy, nursing mothers, extended travel and arduous physical labor.

According to Baha'i tradition, ‘Abdu'l-Bahá, son of Baha'u'llah, the originator of the Baha'i faith, explained the purpose of the fast:

“This material fast is an outer token of the spiritual fast; it is a symbol of self-restraint, the withholding of oneself from all appetites of the self, taking on the characteristics of the spirit, being carried away by the breathings of heaven and catching fire from the love of God.”

After sundown on March 20, the eve of the vernal equinox, Baha'is throughout the world will celebrate Naw-Ruz, the start of the Baha'i New Year.

Read more about the Baha'i faith at the Official Website of the Bahai's of the United States and find information about the local congregation at The Baha'i Faith in Washtenaw County.

Pam Stout coordinates Faith and Parenting coverage for AnnArbor.com.  She can be reached at pamstout@annarbor.com.