Unique Ramadan customs around the world
Have you ever wondered how Ramadan is celebrated around the world? The holy month is more than just a time for prayers and fasting. It is also about bonding with one's culture and customs. Even though Muslims all over the world celebrate Ramadan in the same manner, nations have their own Ramadan customs. Here are few of the customs:
Colourful lanterns lit by Egyptians
Egyptians decorate the streets with "lanterns" (fanus) during Ramadan. These lanterns stand for harmony and happiness.
The genesis stories for the Egyptian fanus vary. One claims that the Fatimid Caliph Moaezz El-Din El-Allah entered Cairo for the first time on the fifth day of Ramadan in the year 358 AH (969 AD). As he entered the city after twilight, the locals, who gathered in large numbers to greet him, held candles in wooden frames to keep them from blowing out. These timber constructions later evolved into decorated lamps.
Suhoor (sehri) announced by Drummers, Turkey
Over 20,000 drummers roam the streets of Turkey, as they do in many other Middle Eastern nations, rousing Muslims for suhoor or sehri. The Ramadan "davulcusu" dons a fez and a vest, as well as other customary Ottoman garbs. Turkish officials recently instituted a membership card for drummers to inculcate a sense of pride in those who perform and inspire a younger generation to maintain this long-standing custom in the rapidly modernising nation.
Children in UAE sing for sweets
This could be referred to as the Trick-or-Treating in the Muslim culture. The "Haq Al Laila" custom is observed on the 13th, 14th, and 15th days of Ramadan. The tradition was first practised by children in Bahrain who would wander the neighbourhood while performing a local tune and wearing colourful clothing in search of candies. The phrase "Give to us and Allah will reward you and help you visit the House of Allah in Mecca (Makkah)" is known as the catchphrase "Aatona Allah Yutikom, Bait Makkah Yudikum." The entire Gulf region observes this custom these days, emphasising the worth of solid societal ties and family values.
Prayers at dawn performed by Morocco's town criers
The Nafar, a town crier who roams around Moroccan neighbourhoods during Ramadan while dressed in the country's traditional garb of a gandora, slippers, and cap, blows his trumpet to rouse up families for suhoor. People favour Nafar because of his sincerity and compassion. This custom is believed to have originated in the seventh century when a follower of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) would wander the streets at daybreak while humming praises to God.
Cleansing ritual commences the Indonesian Ramadan
In the Indonesian custom of Padusan, which means "to bathe," Muslims perform various rites to "cleanse" themselves the day before Ramadan. The first preacher to convey Islamic doctrine through Java were Wali Songo. They are thought to have been the ones to introduce the Padusan custom first.
Cannons blasts for Syrian Iftar
This custom, known as Midfa al Iftar, is thought to have started in Egypt more than 200 years ago, when Khosh Qadam, the Ottoman monarch, was in charge of the nation. At dusk, Qadam discharged a new cannon by mistake while trying it. In Cairo, the noise echoed throughout. Many people were led to believe that this was the new standard for indicating the conclusion of the fast. Later, the custom was copied by other nations, like Syria and Lebanon.
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