Ramadan Kareem!
This is the holy month of Ramadan and it is an experience to be in this part of the world during Ramzaan. It started on the 9th of August and will go on till it is Eid. The entire month Muslims fast the whole day ( without food and water) and eat their first morsel after sundown. Children as young as 10 years also fast with the adults. The feast that they have after sun down is called Iftar and revelry continues well into midnight. Some of them get up early in the morning to have some food before sun rise. This continues for 40 days and if you ask me, it is definitely a task. The fascinating thing about Ramzaan is the spirit with which it is done, especially in the middle east. They have hoardings and notices all over the city strictly forbidding every one ( including non- muslims) to eat or drink in public during the day. In places like Saudia Arabia, it is a punishable offence. Even in offices, non – muslims cannot have their lunch or breakfast or any meal, even water. To make it a little better, they ask you leave early by 2:30 pm so that you can have your meal at home. All the restaurants remain close during the day and open only at night after 7 pm. They continue to remain open well into the night, till about 2 or 4 a.m. The funny thing is, when you go to a supermarket to buy grocery, you’d find the shelves empty. It feels like people hoard food during this time and inspite of remaining closed during the day, restaurants do a thriving business at night. (more…)
