Laws about Pilgrimage

Sboyce · 11-17-2011, 09:14 PM

Hello! I am going on Pilgrimage in about half a year!
I am wondering about Pilgrimage laws that may not have been included in my acceptance letter or just some cultural things as well.

arthra · 11-17-2011, 11:04 PM

Congratulations...They generally give an orientation to the pilgrims on the first day...and there used to be a book on the Holy sites that can provide some useful information.

Generally at restaurants they will suggest something..that's a hint that you should probably order it. It may mean they don't have all the things on the menu so take the hint..that's what's best to order.

Be prepared to have some kind of translator program that might be useful.. I found a lot of people in the town speak German.. there are Arabs too and they will generally be friendly. Know something about Kosher food. Be aware of Sabbath .. maybe have some special side trip planned for the day.if you can arrange it a tour of Akka.. so you can see the mosque, bath house and the crusader vaults under the city.

Sboyce · 11-17-2011, 11:31 PM

I plan to eat vegetarian while I am gone (and hopefully comeback committed to it)
I have 10 days because of the Martyrdom of the Bab on the Lunar Calendar so I will have extra Time
I plan on visiting the Guardian.
Can I take pictures?

cire perdue · 11-18-2011, 06:32 AM

You can take pictures outside any of the buildings, outside the mansion in the gallery, but not inside the Shrines. Spend as much time as you can at Bahji in the Shrine was advice I headed and will never, ever regret it. I went every evening to the Shrine of the Bab. Learn to organize a Shebat run, the taxi, to Bahji. The only thing I wished I had done that I did not do was to see the old mosque in Akka. I spent no time shopping at all. I had to walk from hotel below the lowest terrace and enjoyed that a great deal, Port Inn.

Find out for me if the giant garden snails are eatable! Can vegetarians eat snails? They are good with garlic butter sauce. Be sure and walk all the way around the Shrine of the Bab, and walk down or up all the terraces at least once. Diet will be no more problem than here. You can go to stores near the Pilgrim Center and come back and keep things in a box with your name on it in the refrigerators provided for that with microwaves in the Pilgrim Center. Port Inn had a kitchen for guest and the Indian Baha'is cooked there. Though you say you will be there 10 days, it may actually count as 11. Due to cost of gasoline the shebat rides will be expensive. I don't remember how many have to get together, but in '05 it split up to about 10 shekels each which was $2.50. I would guess it is at least double that, so plan on at least $6 per trip, $12 round trip. Save for that more than any other thing. You will be taken everywhere at least once by the World Centre on buses, but there is open time to go to Bahji.

Though you may have a special spiritual experience while there, do not plan or expect it. I checked with many, nearly no one has a fireworks experience. Mine was when I got home and started crying when I told non-Baha'is about how special the members of the Universal House of Justice felt to me. One of my fellow pilgim's was so overcome she could not enter the Shrine of Baha'u'llah from humility which I find incredibly touching. She also felt the same about the Members as I did, especially after being brought up to kiss rings and defer.

I would say take extra memory cards for camera. Do not skimp on that. I did not see anything for sale, but I did not look. The World Centre sells nothing to us, not even books. Baha'is going to work at the World Centre are told to read GOD PASSES BY. The book on the holy sites has minimal information.

rreini · 11-18-2011, 03:55 PM

I'd also recommend Door of Hope by David Ruhe, which covers the holy sites in great detail.

11-17-2011, 09:14 PM	#1
Sboyce Kitab-i-hearsay Joined: Nov 2010 From: Richmond, Indiana Posts: 245	Laws about Pilgrimage Hello! I am going on Pilgrimage in about half a year! I am wondering about Pilgrimage laws that may not have been included in my acceptance letter or just some cultural things as well.

11-18-2011, 06:32 AM	#4
cire perdue Senior Member Joined: Sep 2010 From: Louisiana Posts: 1,619	That is great news! You can take pictures outside any of the buildings, outside the mansion in the gallery, but not inside the Shrines. Spend as much time as you can at Bahji in the Shrine was advice I headed and will never, ever regret it. I went every evening to the Shrine of the Bab. Learn to organize a Shebat run, the taxi, to Bahji. The only thing I wished I had done that I did not do was to see the old mosque in Akka. I spent no time shopping at all. I had to walk from hotel below the lowest terrace and enjoyed that a great deal, Port Inn. Find out for me if the giant garden snails are eatable! Can vegetarians eat snails? They are good with garlic butter sauce. Be sure and walk all the way around the Shrine of the Bab, and walk down or up all the terraces at least once. Diet will be no more problem than here. You can go to stores near the Pilgrim Center and come back and keep things in a box with your name on it in the refrigerators provided for that with microwaves in the Pilgrim Center. Port Inn had a kitchen for guest and the Indian Baha'is cooked there. Though you say you will be there 10 days, it may actually count as 11. Due to cost of gasoline the shebat rides will be expensive. I don't remember how many have to get together, but in '05 it split up to about 10 shekels each which was $2.50. I would guess it is at least double that, so plan on at least $6 per trip, $12 round trip. Save for that more than any other thing. You will be taken everywhere at least once by the World Centre on buses, but there is open time to go to Bahji. Though you may have a special spiritual experience while there, do not plan or expect it. I checked with many, nearly no one has a fireworks experience. Mine was when I got home and started crying when I told non-Baha'is about how special the members of the Universal House of Justice felt to me. One of my fellow pilgim's was so overcome she could not enter the Shrine of Baha'u'llah from humility which I find incredibly touching. She also felt the same about the Members as I did, especially after being brought up to kiss rings and defer. I would say take extra memory cards for camera. Do not skimp on that. I did not see anything for sale, but I did not look. The World Centre sells nothing to us, not even books. Baha'is going to work at the World Centre are told to read GOD PASSES BY. The book on the holy sites has minimal information.

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11-17-2011, 11:04 PM	#2
arthra Senior Member Joined: Jun 2006 From: California Posts: 3,063	Congratulations...They generally give an orientation to the pilgrims on the first day...and there used to be a book on the Holy sites that can provide some useful information. Generally at restaurants they will suggest something..that's a hint that you should probably order it. It may mean they don't have all the things on the menu so take the hint..that's what's best to order. Be prepared to have some kind of translator program that might be useful.. I found a lot of people in the town speak German.. there are Arabs too and they will generally be friendly. Know something about Kosher food. Be aware of Sabbath .. maybe have some special side trip planned for the day.if you can arrange it a tour of Akka.. so you can see the mosque, bath house and the crusader vaults under the city.

11-17-2011, 11:31 PM	#3
Sboyce Kitab-i-hearsay Joined: Nov 2010 From: Richmond, Indiana Posts: 245	I plan to eat vegetarian while I am gone (and hopefully comeback committed to it) I have 10 days because of the Martyrdom of the Bab on the Lunar Calendar so I will have extra Time I plan on visiting the Guardian. Can I take pictures?

11-18-2011, 03:55 PM	#5
rreini Junior Member Joined: Dec 2010 From: Westland, MI, USA Posts: 10	I'd also recommend Door of Hope by David Ruhe, which covers the holy sites in great detail.