Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim Calendar and it is observed by Muslims all over the world to commemorate the first revelation of the Holy Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
According to the Hadiths this month lasts from 29-30 days based on the visual sightings of the crescent moon. Muslims all over the world fast from dawn until sunset.
In this article I’d like to showcase the way in which Ramadan is celebrated in different unique ways all over the globe.
India
Being proud to be an Indian let me start with my country India first. India being a multi-religious country, Muslims and non Muslims come together during this holy month of Ramadan.
Muslims invite non Muslims which probably are their neighbors for iftar and non Muslims do prepare iftar for Muslims too. Stalls selling dates, water etc are set up in the streets for breaking the fast and they do are free.
But don’t consider as dates being the ideal food item for breaking fast. The most traditional iftar items are chana dal, pakodas, dahi wadas etc.
So Ramadan and iftar in India are really unique and it’s a really happy time as we Indians cooperate, help and share with each other irrespective of which religion, caste etc we come from.
Kuwait
Being an expat residing in Kuwait, I can truly say that Ramadan is observed at its very best in Kuwait.
Ramadan is not only a time for fast but also for charity. In different places by different organizations and by the mosques itself Iftars are organized.
Free food is sometimes given to those people in labor camps.
So there is a lot of humanitarian work going out here in Kuwait in Ramadan.
Every kid in Kuwait awaits the Gulf’s own trick or treat tradition during Ramadan. It’s called Girgian. It’s marked on the 13th. 14th and 15th day of Ramadan.
People decorate their houses and what more the children get a bag of sweets in Ramadan. Girgian is served to kids in a small fabric bag which is decorated with lac and it has toys, chocolates and even nuts in it.
Egypt
In Egypt Ramadan is not just a fast observation. It has a creative cultural blend in it too. Ranging from lanterns to night callers this country does a have rich Ramadan traditions too.
Let me begin with the most famous of all; The Ramadan lanterns or the Fanous. It is said that the people of Egypt welcomed caliph Moezz by lighting hundreds of lanterns and since then these lanterns are their in the blood of every Egyptian while celebrating Ramadan.
So we know that the Ramadan fast is broken after Sunset. But in this fast braking too Egyptians got something unique. I mean a unique idea of breaking the fast. They fire a cannon which marks the sunrise and sunset so its like a signal on when to begin and to break the fast.
Now next the night callers. The night caller takes a round in the street to woke up families to inform them that its time for suhoor.
By having a glance at the ways of how Ramadan is observed around the world we can see that whatever the culture, traditions or the styles maybe Ramadan is a time where people try to make themselves holy by observing fast.
They forget and repent for their mistakes.
This Ramadan, let us make it special by giving charity and spreading happiness to all.