




PRESS RELEASE 


        OPENING OF SACRED TERRACES TO BRING THOUSANDS TO ISRAEL IN MAY 



HAIFA, Israel (28 February 2001) - In a celebration expected to draw more than 
3,500 people from almost every country, on 22 May 2001 the Baha'is of the world 
will open a series of majestic garden Terraces on Mount Carmel, demonstrating 
their commitment to building world peace.  

      The opening ceremony at dusk will feature an open-air world premiere 
concert at the base of the mountain, to be broadcast live by satellite.  
Original music by contemporary composers from Norway and Tajikistan will be 
performed by a full symphony orchestra, a choir and well-known soloists, 
climaxing with the spectacular lighting of the kilometer-long Terraces.  

      On the morning of 23 May following the opening, indigenous musicians 
will perform, and thousands of celebrants, many in colorful national dress, 
will walk up the Terraces for the first time.  The week's festivities will end 
with a public opening, after which visitors and tourists of all faiths will be 
able to enjoy the gardens, every day, free of charge. 

      At the heart of the Terraces is the gold-domed Shrine of the Bab, one of 
the most important holy places for Baha'is.  The Shrine, a well-known symbol of 
the city of Haifa, contains the remains of one of the two Founders of the 
Baha'i Faith, known as the Bab.  The Terraces are designed to surround the 
Shrine like the setting of a precious gem. 

      The architect, Fariborz Sahba, also designed the famous "Lotus Temple" 
in New Delhi, which now attracts more visitors than the Taj Mahal. 

      "It has not been our aim just to build beautiful architecture, or merely 
beautiful, landscaped gardens," said Mr. Sahba.  "There are so many beautiful 
gardens in the world.  The whole aim was to create beautiful, spiritual 
gardens; gardens that touch the spirit, so that a visitor may pause and think, 
'This place is different, there is something special about it'." 

      The arrival of thousands of representatives from nearly every ethnic 
group and nationality to consecrate this holy place stands in sharp contrast to 
the turmoil and uncertainty in the region.  Baha'i spokesman Douglas Samimi-
Moore said, "Baha'is have built these structures because we are confident in 
the peaceful future of humanity.  The power to unite is one that the world 
desperately needs." 

      The Terraces and gleaming white marble administrative buildings nearby 
have transformed the face of the mountain.  The project was completed over a 
10-year period at a cost of US$250 million, funded by voluntary contributions 
from members of the worldwide Baha'i community, who now number over five 
million.  The Baha'i Faith is one of four world religions with significant holy 
places in Israel. 

      With the completion of the Terraces, the number of tourists to Haifa is 
expected to triple to 1.2 million annually.  The city has made the project a 
key element in its urban renewal campaign, incorporating the restored German 
Templer colony and the Louis Promenade along the crest of Mount Carmel.  
Together with the Terraces, they create a 3-kilometer-long pedestrian walkway - 
one of the most attractive urban developments in the Mediterranean region.  
Israel's Postal Authority has designed a special 9-centimeter stamp to mark the 
completion of the Terraces. 





 





About the Baha'i Faith  
     In just over 100 years, the Baha'i Faith has grown from an obscure 
movement in the Middle East to the second-most widespread independent world 
religion after Christianity, with over five million members in 235 countries 
and dependent territories.  Embracing people from more than 2,100 ethnic, 
racial, and tribal groups, it is probably the most diverse organized body of 
people on the planet today.  Its Founder, Baha'u'llah, teaches that there is 
only one God, that there is only one human race, and that all the world 
religions have been stages in the revelation of God's purpose for humankind.  
As Baha'u'llah wrote:  "The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens."  
The Baha'i International Community is a non-governmental organization with 
consultative status at the United Nations, working at the grassroots in the 
areas of peace-building, human rights, the advancement of women, education, 
health and sustainable development. 

____________________________________________________________________________ 

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Office of Public Information,  
  Baha'i World Centre - P.O. Box 155 - 31001 Haifa, Israel  
Email:  ieomedia@bwc.org 
Fax:  972-4-8313312  





 
