The festival of worship is here! The celebration with restraining from worldly pleasures and offering one’s self to God is what ‘Ramadan’ or “Ramzan’ all about. The Muslim community all round the world will be found deeply in prayers (Ibaadat) for the entire month of Ramadan starting from end of May till End of June, followed by a 3 days celebration of ‘Eid-Ul-Fitr’ which literally means ‘festival of breaking the fast’. The celebration concludes after a month long fasting ceremony and intense Ibaadat to ‘Allah’ (God). 

The community, just before the celebrations of Eid-ul-Fitr, keeps a month long fast. The practice of fasting is called 'Roza' starts from the break of dawn till dusk and during this whole day an individual has to refrain himself from drinking, eating or having luxurious pleasures. The term 'Roza' is an Arabic word means abstinence. This year Eid will be celebrated on June 25th or 26th to mark the end of Ramzan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. 

 

The month of Ramadan shows the Faith over Allah and how he helps his pals during the suffering of fasting. Fasting is contemplated as a ritual in self-restraint. It is observed as a way of physical and spiritual detoxification by kicking habits like morning tea, smoking and midday meals. Many Muslims avoid dressing new clothes during Ramzan and spend more time at ‘Masjids’ than at any other time of the year. Fasting during Ramzan is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the Muslim declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity and performing the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca situated at Saudi Arabia.

People are encouraged to offer the ‘Namaaz’ five times a day on time and to use their downtime just before breaking their fast at sunset to recite Quran and strengthen remembrance of God. To be ready for the whole day fast, Muslims eat what is mostly called ‘Suhoor,’ a pre-dawn meal of protein foods to get them through the day. Muslims ritually break their fast like the Prophet Muhammad did some 1,400 years ago, with a sip of water and some dates at sunset. That first sip of water is by far the most awaited moment of the day. After a sunset prayer, a large feast known as ‘Iftar’ is shared with family and friends. Iftar is a social practice as much as it is a gastronomical adventure. 

Traditionally, the start of the month is welcomed with greetings of ‘Ramadan mubarak!’ Another known fact of Ramzan is night prayers at the mosque among Sunni Muslims called ‘Taraweeh.’

The end of Ramadan is marked by intense worship as Muslims seek to have their prayers answered during ‘Laylat al-Qadr’ or ‘the Night of Fortune.’ It is on this night, which falls through the last 10 nights of Ramzan, that Muslims believe that God sent the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad and disclosed the first versus of the Quran. Some dedicated Muslims go into reclusion those final days, spending all of their time in the mosque (Masjid).

 

The end of Ramzan is glorified by a three-day holiday called Eid ul-Fitr. Children often receive new clothes, gifts and cash which is noted as ‘Eidi’

Muslims go for early morning Eid prayers the day after Ramzan. Families usually spend the day at parks, eating and greeting each other with wishes for future.

 

India is a country with colorful people and those people add more life with such different festivals of distinct communities to it.

Eid Mubarak All! 

BY:
MINAL JOSHI