Uniting a community through an inclusive family festival devoted to giving
The community of Armadale, in the south-east of Perth, recently decided to host a special Ayyam-i-Ha festival engaging entire families in a celebratory event devoted to the theme of generosity.
The activities suited a variety of age groups, and included a devotional portion, arts activities, a kids’ corner, drama, performance, and food, with each section focusing on the theme of giving.
There was even a consultation section on generosity, and a presentation of donated items to Mr Richard Neil – the president of Kids Cancer Support Group.
Participant Danashni Naidu says it was beautiful to share the love and joy of the Armadale community.
“With this festival there’s a service project and that is really important to serve your community.
“I think it’s so inclusive of everybody and spreads the love and light of the area.”
Jane Scott says she found great joy watching the children of the area growing up immersed in the Faith’s values.
“I’ve had grandchildren here from birth and I’m watching them come up through the teachings of the Baha’i, I have watched them coming through their junior youth (programs) and becoming wonderful young men and young women, and it’s all part of that building in of the values for the community.
“So to come to a festival like this as a grandmother is a wonderful opportunity to see these grandchildren interacting and playing such a part of the inclusiveness of this festival.”
Thanks for reading.
Subscribe
Armadale
The Armadale Baha’i Community of Western Australia is located in Perth’s south-east, on traditional Noongar lands and is home to a small, active group of friends working to better their community.
Published in March, 2024, in Community Stories > Community Arts
Available online at: horizons.bahai.org.au/community-stories/uniting-a-community-through-an-inclusive-family-festival-devoted-to-giving/
Related Stories
Young people produce new film inspired by junior youth text
A group of friends in Townsville in northern Queensland have produced a film based on the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program text Glimmerings of Hope. The following are some ...
Prayer, food and service: Dardanup Ayyam-i-Ha a feast for the soul
More than 70 friends attended Dardanup Shire’s Ayyam-i-Ha celebration in the south-west of Western Australia, north of the city of Bunbury. Featuring devotions, a brief introduction to the ...
Celebrating Ayyam-i-Ha in group settings
This year, the Ballarat Baha’i community decided to mark Ayyam-i-Ha a little differently. With an ever-growing contingent of friends joining the community-building process, hosting one ...
Fusing culture, community and faith to create a unique coming-of-age celebration
At the age of 15, having reached spiritual maturity, young Baha’is have the opportunity to reaffirm their faith in Baha’u’llah. With no prescribed ceremony for this moment, ...
Marching towards a better future for all humanity
Up in Darwin, the Baha’i Fast starts a little differently. Amid soaring wet-season temperatures and humidity that makes you sweat in ways you never knew you could, the community makes the ...
Using camps to build capacity
Institute camps in Western Australia’s south-west are helping individuals to build capacity and spurring them into the field of action. Launched in 2021, the first camps were held at a ...