Samandarí's Memories of Riḍván

Tarázu'lláh Samandarí, born in 1874, attained the presence of Bahá'u'lláh in 1891 and remained for six months in His entourage in 'Akká. He later recalled:

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On the First Day of Ridván, I and three other pilgrims were present, sitting on the floor, facing Bahá’u’lláh, Who was sitting on a chair. He started to chant the Tablet of Sultán with great majesty and grandeur, for about half an hour. He occasionally made a gesture with His hand or moved His foot and the power felt while He was proclaiming ‘O Sultán!’ was overpowering. The spiritual experience, the ecstasy, is beyond description.

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At the end, He said, ‘Taráz Effendi, arise and present a rose each to the friends.’ The roses were spread on a sheet of dazzling whiteness on His bed. I obeyed His command and He said, ‘Give Us Our share also.' I offered Him a rose and He bade me take one for myself. Then blessing us, He dismissed us from His presence.

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Another Day of Ridván. He received us in the Garden of Ridván—all friends, residents and pilgrims gathered together with utmost bliss in that Paradise, the envy of all the gardens of the world. The great poet, ‘Andalib, recited an ode he had composed for the occasion. Bahá'u'lláh showered bounties on all present, who were standing before Him in rows, giving them with His own hands rosewater, sweetmeats and oranges—and to ‘Andalib, a bottle of rosewater and two oranges!

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