With sunset in Hawaii late Sunday, the period marking the bicentenary of Baha’u’llah’s birth came to a close.

Over 72 hours Friday-to-Sunday, a cross-section of humanity, unprecedented in its diversity, in virtually every spot on the globe, joined in a striking diversity of action to commemorate the birth of Baha’u’llah.

About 150 Baha’is, friends, and acquaintances gathered for dinner, performances, and to watch Light to the World Saturday in Lincoln Mill for the Huntsville Bicentenary observance

Countless individuals were inspired by the festivities surrounding the bicentenary and were moved by their encounters with the life and writings of Baha’u’llah.

Addressing about 150 gathered for the observance in Huntsville Saturday evening , Kenny Anderson, Huntsville’s Multicultural Affairs Officer, said, “I am so happy … to celebrate these 200 years of enlightenment, and the opportunity to understand that when we believe that when something is possible, nothing is impossible.”

In Suriname, Vice President Ashwin Adhin planned to attend a reception for the bicentenary held at the National Baha’i Centre. After a short program which included prayers, a film about the history of the Faith in Suriname, and a talk, he decided to cancel his plans so he would have time to speak with the Baha’is about community-building in the young country. On the same day, the Baha’i community of Canada received a public message of good-will from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, one of the last of a wide array of such messages received in recent days from officials.

Many celebrations throughout the world featured screenings of the film Light to the World, which tells the story of Baha’u’llah’s life and the impact of His teachings. A participant at a gathering in East Asia said, “After watching the film, everyone was saying ‘Baha’u’llah’ with so much ease and comfort…It was as if they had known Him for many years and He was a familiar Figure to them.”

At a national celebration in Madrid, one attendee said, “the message of Baha’u’llah is exactly what humanity needs. Listening to these principles is not just a matter of hearing a beautiful message, it is essential for the progress of the human race.”