THE Baha'i religious community in Kirklees is celebrating its 12-day festival Ridvan - meaning paradise.

Christine Deihim, a member of the Kirklees Baha'i community, said: "It is the anniversary of the time in 1863 when the founder of our religion, Baha'u'llah, first made his mission known."

To coincide with the start of Ridvan, the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Kirklees held its annual election at the home of members Richard and Parisa Hagan in Edgerton.

The Baha'i faith has no clergy or individual positions of leadership, so the assembly plays a key role in serving Baha'i devotees in Kirklees.

Assembly members chosen after the prayers of the Baha'i community were: Vivien Crook, Anna Crook, Christine Deihim, Janet Fozzard, Parisa Hagan, Richard Hagan, Nicholas Morris, Ruby Lagnado and Abbas Soltani.