Discover a joyful garden of unity, kindness, and spiritual celebration as we explore the Baháʼí Faith and the beautiful festival of Riḍván.
Length
🕛32 mins
Host
🎙️ Laura Menousek
Release Date
April 23, 2025
What’s Inside This Episode
In this colorful, springtime episode, Laura guides listeners through the Baháʼí celebration of Riḍván. Through Maya’s story, a kindness game, and real-world teachings, children learn about unity, justice, and how small acts of service can grow into a garden of goodness. A perfect blend of faith, nature, and family-friendly learning!
For Parents and Educators
Learning Themes:
- Respecting different belief systems
- Justice and fairness
- The power of kindness and service
Suggested Uses:
- Great for spring homeschool units on global faiths
- Supports SEL learning through empathy and decision-making
- Encourages community service and gratitude projects
Bonus Tip:Create a “Unity Garden” bulletin board or wall display with your class or family. Have each child design a flower that represents themselves—include their name, a strength, and something that makes them unique. When you group all the flowers together, you’ll have a beautiful visual reminder that, just like in the Baháʼí belief, we’re all unique but part of one big, beautiful garden.
Printable Activities
Bahá’u’lláh’s Garden of Joy: A Riḍván Story
Bahá’u’lláh’s Garden of Joy: A Riḍván Story is a joyful,…
Planting Seeds of Kindness: A 7 Day Kindness Tracker
Planting Seeds of Kindness: A 7 Day Kindness Tracker is…
Ridván Flower Cookies
Brighten your Ridván celebration with easy flower-shaped cookies—perfect for family baking, interfaith learning, and springtime sweetness.
Riḍván Bunting
Celebrate the Festival of Riḍván with this joyful printable Ridvan Bunting! Each letter of “Riḍván” is beautifully designed to cut out and hang. Perfect for decorating your home, classroom, or prayer space during the 12 days of Riḍván. Just print on card stock, cut, and string together with ribbon or yarn. A simple, meaningful way to bring the spirit of Riḍván into your celebration!
Books to Explore Together
Note: This section contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting Faithfully Explore!

Nuala Says Her Prayers
By Sahar Sabat
Inspired by a real mother-daughter moment, this gentle picture book introduces children to the Bahá’í practice of daily prayer. Through warm, everyday scenes and inclusive illustrations, it encourages kids of all backgrounds to explore the meaning of prayer and spiritual connection.

Make Me a Shining Lamp
By Celeste Amara Finn
This beautifully illustrated book shares nine short stories from the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, each teaching a different virtue. With quotes, reflection questions, and prayers, it’s a heartfelt guide to moral and spiritual growth for kids ages 4–9—perfect for family reading or classroom discussions.

Bahá’í Basics: A Guide to the Beliefs, Practices, and History of the Bahá’í Faith
By Frances Worthington
A clear, question-and-answer guide to the Bahá’í Faith—its history, teachings, and global community. Whether you’re new to the Faith or want a refresher, this approachable book offers thoughtful insights supported by quotes from Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Backpack Bonus: Quick Belief Facts
We added:
💎 Unity Gem – See the world as one big family
🔑 Golden Key of Justice – Treat everyone fairly
🌱 Growing Seed of Learning – Keep asking questions and growing kindness
Treasures from this episode remind us that kindness, fairness, and fresh starts help gardens—and people—grow strong and joyful. When we share kindness with others, it’s like watering the roots of friendship, helping trust blossom into colorful blooms of connection. Justice lights the way for every voice to be heard, creating beds of respect where everyone’s unique gifts can flourish. And when we welcome fresh starts, we open our hearts to new possibilities, sowing seeds of hope that can transform even the driest places into vibrant fields of understanding. Carry these treasures in your Belief Backpack wherever you go, and watch how your actions help the world—like a garden—grow more beautiful every day.
Listener Shoutout
“I liked the Ridván garden. It sounded so pretty and fun! When Laura said we’re all flowers in the same garden, I felt happy“
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💬 Join the Conversation
- “One thing I learned about Riḍván that surprised me was…”
- “My favorite part of the Garden of Joy story was…”
- “In my family, we celebrate together by…”
- “The idea of unity and community makes me think about…”
👉 Share your thoughts below! How are you planting seeds of love, unity, and joy in your own way? We can’t wait to hear your stories!
6 responses to “Episode 3 | Kindness in Bloom: Celebrating Ridvan and the Bahai Faith”
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Thank you for teaching me something new!
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You bet! Keep exploring with me and hopefully I can continue to teach you more.
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I had never heard of the Bahá’í Faith before this episode, and I’m so glad we listened! The way it explained Riḍván and the idea of unity in diversity was beautiful
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There’s a lot to be admired about the Baha’i faith. They have some beautiful concepts and ideals we can all implement.
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I enjoyed learning about the interconnectivity of religions that the Bahai faith believes in.
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This is one of the things that stood out to me about the Baha’i faith and one of the reasons I chose to spotlight them.
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