Ramadhan, the Month of God (6)

Welcome to the 6th episode of “Ramadhan, the Month of God”. Let us start with the supplication for the 6th day of Ramadhan:

 “O Allah, forsake me not this day by letting me venture to disobey You, and do not strike me with the lash of Your vengeance! Keep me away from the causes of Your displeasure, with Your favour and support, O Ultimate Object of the desire of those yearn!”

Today, you will be acquainted with some of the customs and traditions of Ramadhan in various countries.

Pakistan is a country which has a population over 95% Muslim. Pakistanis, like many other Muslims in the world, make preparations for Ramadhan before the start of the month. They clean and adorn mosques, shrines and Hussainias. A national committee is in charge of sighting the crescent or the new moon to ascertain the start of Ramadhan and announce it to the public. The Pakistani people strive to make the best use of this blessed month for self-purification. One of the common traditions among Pakistanis is arranging Iftar or the fast breaking meals for family and friends to it. The mosques also arrange Iftar for the worshippers following the Maghreb Prayer. The courtyards of the mosque and the adjoining streets are filled with the fasters breaking fast. Many people contribute to the Iftar. Various types of sweets are prepared especially for Ramadhad in Pakistan; one of which is known as Jalebi, or the Zulubiyeh that is made in Iran of super fine flour and sugar, and then soaked in hot delectable syrup. Another type of snack is the salty, hot and crispy Pakora, made up of gram flour, with onion, potato, spinach, and chili pepper. Of course, dates are the favourite food for breaking the fast, while the prime meal is Biryani, made up of rice cooked with either lamb or chicken.

The final days of Ramadhan as Eid al-Fitr nears are the best days of the year for Pakistani people because this Eid is considered the main Islamic feasts. Women and girls dye and design their hands with henna which is called Mehndi. Pakistanis hold congregational prayer on the Day of Eid and then visit the elderly and present gifts to the children.

Although India is not an Islamic country, it has a population of around two- hundred-and-fifty-million Muslims. Muslims in India normally start their fasts in the last days of Sha'ban to welcome the advent of the blessed month of Ramadhan. They adorn their houses and neighborhoods with flowers, and cleanse mosques, shrines, and hussainiyas. Mosques, which are mostly attended by men, organize religious discourses. Women are very busy during Ramadhan preparing Iftar and Sahri or late midnight meal before dawn. Some of the traditional foods in India during Ramadhan are Khichdi or rice mixed with lentil, Qeema or minced meat, Paratha or homemade bread, Pakoras, Jalebi, Dates, Dahi Vada or lentil dumplings soaked in a spicy yogurt sauce, and of course, Haleem, which unlike Iran and West Asia is hot and spicy.

On the day of Eid al-Fitr, Indian Muslims flock to mosques or Eidgahs for performing the special Eid Prayer. In India, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Milad an-Nabi or the Prophet’s birthday, and Ashura or Muharram 10, the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Husain (AS), are among the official holidays for the whole country, as a mark of respect to Muslims.

Afghanistan’s population is 99% Muslim. The Afghan people have special respect for the blessed month of Ramadhan like all other Muslims. The first day of Ramadhan is a public holiday in Afghanistan, and the government reduces the working hours by 3 hours for public and private workers and employees. The Afghan people vie in helping the needy and the poor in this month. They arrange Iftar and for family members and friends. Afghan food is a mixture of Iranian, Central Asian and Subcontinent dishes and flavors. The traditional Ramadhan food includes samosas, and a special pickle called Chatni. Like all other Muslim countries, Dates and Jalebi or Zulubiyeh are served, while the main meals are made up of Kebab or various kinds, and Kabuli Palao. The TV channels broadcast special Ramadhan programmes which are popular among people.

The people of Bamiyan province, whose mother tongue is Persian, prepared for Eid al-Fitr, women make Halwa-e Samanak (special pudding like Samanoo in Iran). Then they distribute as nazri for beseeching the mercy of God on the souls of the departed. In the last days of Ramadhan, families go to bazaars for shopping. Eid al-Fitr in Afghanistan starts with the glorious Eid Prayer throughout the country.

Bangladesh, with nearly 160 million people, has a population of over 90% Muslim. There are 250 thousand mosques in Bangladesh which are full of devotees in the month of Ramadhan, who recite the holy Qur'an, attend Islamic courses. There are also special courses for children and teenagers and seminars on unity of the Islamic Ummah. The capital city, Dhaka, present a spectacular sight during blessed Ramadhan. There are traditional bazaars that are overcrowded with people. Many of the Bengali people buy their Iftar items from these bazaars. One of the special foods for Ramadhan is called Amdodh which is a sweet pudding made up of rice, ripe mango and banana. Inviting friends and relatives for Iftar is common among the Bengalis. During Ramadhan Iftar is arranged in mosques across the country. One of the famous items is a special cream dessert made up of milk and noodles decorated with almond. This sweet food is very famous in India and Pakistan as well, on the Day of Eid al-Fitr.