For some, the new year means partying, parades and good times with friends. Members of the Bahá'í Faith, however, see their new year as a chance to get closer to God.

Followers of the Bahá'í Faith on campus will join fellow members from around the world in celebrating the final month of the Bahá'í calendar with 19 days of fasting, which began Wednesday. The month 'Alá, precedes the Bahá'í new year on March 21, the first day of spring. During this time, the faithful abstain from eating or drinking between sunrise and sunset.

According to the faith's official Web site, Bahá'í believe that God sent a series of divine messengers - Abraham, Zoroaster, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad - to reveal God's divine plan. These messengers culminated in an ultimate messenger named Bahá'íu'lláh, whose writings are followed by modern Bahá'í General management sophomore Lua Parsa grew up practicing Bahá'í. She said even when she was young she was excited by the prospect of fasting.

"Being detached from physical and material things helps renew one's connection to God," Parsa said. "It helps us better understand our life and the world around us."

Parsa said the fast helps her make resolutions to become a better person in the year ahead.

"We fast to purify our soul for the new year," said Tewodros Ghebrab, a civil engineering doctoral student. "It is our way to show respect to God."

Ghebrab is one of the nine members of the Local Spiritual Assembly in Lansing. The assembly is an elected body, which serves as the Bahá'í community's leaders for a one-year term. These nine members are not spiritual leaders, Ghebrab said, they are only an administrative body.

"It is not a position of power - we merely help keep the community united," Ghebrab said.

David Smith, this year's assembly chairman, said a major difference between the Bahá'í faith and others was this democratic organization.

"There are no clergy in the faith," Smith said. "Any member of the community can suggest a topic to discuss in the devotional meeting."

These weekly devotional meetings take place in the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road, because of the lack of an official temple in the area.

In fact, the only Bahá'í temple in America is just north of Chicago in Wilmette, Ill., Smith said.

At the devotional meetings community members gather to discuss topics of spirituality and read from one of the several books the Bahá'í consider sacred revelations - including the Holy Quran, the Torah and the Bible.

Ghebrab said these books, along with the Bahá'í "Kita'bi'Aqdas," or most holy book, serve as the foundation because adherents believe all the world's religions provide vital insight on God's nature.

Ghebrab said the faith unites people from all over the world and helps him make connections whenever he travels. Originally from Eritrea, in Northeast Africa, Ghebrab came to MSU in August 2004.

"I was confident I would find other Bahá'í followers anywhere I went," Ghebrab said. "We are like a great big family - I feel at home wherever I go."