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Ramadan in India
Indian
people prepare themselves for Ramadan on the last day of Sha`aban,
when the fatwa committee there go for sighting the crescent of
Ramadn after Sunset Prayer. On announcing the following day to be
the first day of Ramadan, people begin to phone their relatives and
friends, congratulating one another for the blessed month. Then
they go for Taraweeh Prayer, and some people show more keenness on
Taraweeh Prayer than on the prescribed Prayers and observe it
steadfastly, especially at the beginning of the month and also when
the month ends.
The number of people who perform Taraweeh Prayer redoubles in the
27th night of Ramadan, being considered the Night of Power. Also
their number increase in the night when the Imam is about to
complete the
Qur’an. One of the habits of the Indians in Ramadan is also
retreating in mosques for worship during the last ten days of
Ramadan.
There are some special dishes prepared in Ramadan in India, such as
“Ghangui” a kind of soup, made of floor, rice and slices of
meat. It’s very useful in breaking one’s fasting with as it
quenches thirst and produces energy. This soup is served in every
mosque. Also there is “Harir” a kind of drink to be taken at
Iftar. The Indians also like to eat different fruits in Ramadan.
At the end of Ramadan, people begin to prepare themselves for the
`Eid El-Fitr (the Lesser Bairam); it is actually the greatest feast
for Muslims in the India. Early in the morning of `Eid, men take
shower and wear white clothes, then they go for `Eid Prayer after
they eat some sweets. At home, women go on preparing special sweets
for the feast, which they call `Eid Kah. Then they present it to
their husbands after returning from the mosque. All people wear
colorful and elegant dresses and receive visitors. They also
exchange `Eid cards.
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