More than a thousand people attended this year’s National Bahá'í Festival in Scarborough.

The Festival was held on the first weekend of November, with the aim of presenting a vision of hope and peace, at an extremely troubled time in world events, and to celebrate the activities of the UK Bahá'í community in working to help realise that vision.

Open to Bahá'ís and their friends alike, many were moved by a trilogy of new films, called Ordinary Heroes – featuring interviews with more than eighty Bahá'ís about their work and service to the human race.

As in past years, the talents of Britain’s exceptional artistic community were drawn upon, with public performances by comedian Omid Djalili and the Zarb Ensemble from Northern Ireland – a collective which combine traditional music from Iran and Ireland in a unique fusion of eastern and western cultures.

The life of the 19th century Persian Bahá'í poetess, Tahirih, was also recognized at the festival, as this year marks her 150th anniversary. Performance artist Sarah Clive used shadow theatre, movement, sound and music to create an insight into the poet’s life and work.

There was also a well-attended panel discussion on the issues of social cohesion featuring the National Secretary Barney Leith, the MP for Scarborough and Whitby Laurie Quinn, and anti-racism campaigner Steve White. CP

Young Baha'is take to stage at scarborough