Hearing the sound of your shoes against the white stones of the graveled pathway and the slow, steady flow of water down the stairs, the feeling of a soft breeze on your face and the bittersweet smell of Jaffa oranges in the air. There is no other place that I know of which is comparable to the tranquility one feels in the Bahá'í Gardens in Haifa.
The Bahá'í Gardens are located on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. This is the holiest place and a site of pilgrimage for Bahá'ís around the world. My family and I went on a pilgrimage in November 2012. At the heart of the Garden stands the golden-domed Shrine of the Báb, which is the resting place of the Prophet-Herald of the Bahá'í Faith (2019). Overlooking the shrine are flower beds, a variety of trees including Olive, Cypress and Palm trees, hedges, water fountains and pools, and small sculptures. All carefully taken care of and perfectly symmetrical on either side. There are a few other buildings located in the Garden, such as the seat of the International governing body of the Bahá'í community known as the Universal House of Justice. The seat of the Universal House of Justice is made of blinding,white marble. The building is in classical Corinthian order and is located at the apex of the arc on Mount Carmel(2019). It is in complete harmony with its surrounding landscape.
The atmosphere is one of peace, reflection, and joy as you walk in the gardens, pray in the Shrines or spend time with other pilgrims. There's an urge to be a better person from then on.
While meeting with fellow Bahá'ís and seeing their broad smiles and friendly faces, I felt a warm sensation of safety.
The Bahá'í Gardens are a place where people who would otherwise be unlikely to have much in common are brought together by common beliefs. You can feel the power of unity in diversity as representatives of different races, nationalities, and genders unite which is only natural given that unity of mankind is a fundamental principle in the Bahá'í Faith. A new culture is prevalent, one where arrogance, dominance, and competition gives way to humility, mutual help, and cooperation.
Made by Maryam
