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Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. Muslims all over the world celebrate this as a month of fasting and prayers. It is the time when Muhammad received the initial revelations of what became the Quran. This annual observance is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Ramadan is a time to practice self-restraint and self-reflection. Fasting is seen as a way to purify the soul and have empathy for those in the world who are hungry and less fortunate. Muslims go to work and take care of their usual activities during Ramadan however some also read the entire Quran, recite special prayers and attend mosques more frequently during this time. The main aspects of this festival are:
Fasting: During the month of Ramadan Muslims all over the world fast from dawn to dusk. Fasting is obligatory for all adults. During the fast they must refrain from consuming food, drinking liquids, smoking and engaging in sexual relations. People following Islam believe that fasting inculcates patience, modesty and spirituality. The first pre-dawn meal of the day during Ramadan is called ‘suhoor.’ Each day’s fast is broken with a meal known as ‘iftar.’ Traditionally, a date is eaten to break the fast. Meals are served before sunrise and after sunset and are eaten with the family or with the local community.
The elderly, sick, pregnant women, women during the period of their menstruation and women nursing their newborns are exempted from fasting. In some Muslim communities, people who miss the fasting are expected to compensate by feeding the poor and unfortunate or by fasting continuously for days.
Nightly Prayers: ‘Tarawih’ refers to extra prayers performed by Muslims at night in the Islamic month of Ramadan. It is a means by which Muslims perform the recitation of the entire Quran.These voluntary prayers are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Quran is recited.
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Id-al-Fitr (Feast of Breaking the Fast or the Sugar Feast): The holy month of Ramadan is followed by Id-al-Fitr, which marks the beginning of Islamic month of Shawwal . Traditionally, it is the day (beginning at sunset) of the first sighting of the crescent moon shortly after sunset. Many Muslims attend communal prayers, listen to sermons and give away zakat-al-fitr(charity). The charity is done by giving away food such as barley, dates, raisins or wheat flour or money donated to the poor. As this day marks the end of a month-long fast, it is celebrated with heavy feasting. People wear new clothes, visit relatives, festive meals are prepared for sharing and kids are gifted with sweets and presents.Festivals are a reflection of the practices and traditions that prevail in a particular culture. This festive season is the perfect time to rediscover Islamic culture.
Food: Like every other festive season Ramadan is full of varied flavours and colours too. Dates, Chabbakia (a dessert made of fried dough flavoured with orange blossom water and coated with sesame seeds and honey), Paomo (a bread and mutton soup), Kolak, Ramazan Kebabi (a dish made with lamb, onions, yogurt, and pita bread) and Sherbet (a soft drink) are few of the dishes served at the time of Suhour or Iftar.
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The end of the fasting month is followed by another day of feasting which is also known as ‘Sweet Id’because of the variety of traditional Islamic sweets served. Sheer Khurma, chamcham, barfi, gulabjamun, rasmalai, baklava… in simple words, an overwhelming menu for those who love the sweet stuff.
The richness of the culture along with the delicious traditional food make this the perfect time of the year to go about exploring different places in the world with a dominant Muslim population.
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- License: Image author owned
- License: Image author owned
- License: Image author owned
Pratik Panda is a freelance photographer, writer, videographer, and voice over artist. You can learn more about him and his work by visiting his website or photography portfolio at Dreamstime.com.
