MEMBERS of the Baha'i community celebrated the launch of the 12-day Ridvá festival.

The festival, meaning paradise, marks the anniversary of the founding of the religion in 1863.

Members of the community gathered at the home of Christine and Khosro Deihim in Dalton to mark the occasion.

A special devotional programme was followed by the annual report and the election of the Spiritual Assembly.

Members wrote on blank ballot papers for the people best fitted to serve.

Elected to the assembly for the coming year were: Vivien Crook, Anna Crook, Christine Deihim, Janet Fozzard, Parisa Hagan, Richard Hagan, Nicholas Morris, Ruby Lagnado- Morris and Abbas Soltani.