National Bahá’í Schools

Ideas from the Committees—Inspiring Devotional Programs

Southern California Bahá’í School’s Dawn Prayers

Southern California Baha'i School has an excellent turn-out each morning for their dawn prayers. It could be the fact that these are held conveniently just outside the dining hall, and for the thirty minutes immediately preceding breakfast. (These conditions have proved helpful at several schools.) It certainly helps that the prayers are held in a beautiful, tree-shaded location, with ample informal seating around the edges of a patio courtyard. But undoubtedly one attraction is that school-goers are gently “called” to dawn prayers with soft drumming and other musical instruments, such as a didgeridoo and flute. The live music helps create a tranquil, reverent environment as people approach and get settled. Soon the music stops and spontaneous prayers, chanting and singing ensues. A minute or two before the breakfast bell rings, instrumental music again gently plays, signalizing the end of the devotional gathering.

Contact Dawn Shelley, secretary of Southern California Bahá’í School at DawnShelley@hotmail.com for further details

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