Around the world in 30 days, Ramadan around the world

SISTER MARYAM
CANADA




Jerusalem: The Fragrance of History and the Guns of the Occupier

It is not an ordinary town; rather, a symbol of Islam and one of the most blessed patches on the earth. There we see many great and Holy sites that invoke the remote blessed days the town enjoyed under the Muslim rule.

Great was the way Muslims in that blessed city used to welcome and celebrate the month of Ramadan. Reciting Qur’an and playing drums were among the signs of happiness with the month. In addition, offering charity to the needy and the poor and offering food to them were among the traits of the residents of the Holy City.

This was the state of the city before the coming of the Strange Black Birds (The Occupier). Now, with a stone at hand a child of the city chants:

Khaibar is back and so near.


Muhammad is back and we are here.


Hurry brothers with no fear.

Victory is really great and dear.



Now, every child and youth is fighting the enemy and defending the honor and the blessed city. No time for joy, no time for play. The great joy will be when our blessed land is back and when our blessed mosque is restored.

The story of the Holy City will never end and its melody nourishes every heart and soul with hope and strength.



Ramadan in Canada


The onset of Ramadan sends wave of joy, happiness, and piety through the hearts and minds of Muslims all over the world. Whether in Canada or Somalia, the coming of this blessed month is greeted with unrivaled excitement. For the more than half a million Muslims of Canada, being a minority brings its own peculiar challenges during Ramadan.


The word "food" takes on a whole, new meaning when you fast for 14 long hours while the sun refuses to set even at eight in the night.

Ramadan has come at a time of the Fall Equinox in Canada where the daylight hours stretch out in some places, to 15 exhausting hours. The word "Equinox" is Latin for getting equal lengths of daylight and darkness at this time of year.

Preparations and Challenges


Preparations for Ramadan in the big cities, begin with a series of lectures on the fiqh of Ramadan masjid committees plan for the necessary logistics: Are there enough parking spaces for those coming for tarawih, who is going to bring iftar on Wednesday, can we bring meat from the corner halal store, are we going to invite non-Muslim guests? All of these and similar questions are discussed, and an action plan is devised.



As soon as the moon is sighted, there is a flurry of activity.

University students have their own plans. For some of those who have evening classes, this becomes an issue. Many of them opt to leave the class for a few minutes for a quick iftar and prayers before going back. As for those whose classes have ended already, it is time to relax after a hard day’s work and share the dinner with others. In some universities, there is also a short talk after dinner.



Madrassa students have a slightly altered schedule: They continue to have classes, but only for half of the time. Students aspiring to be huffaz are asked to exert themselves and make their already memorized parts as strong as possible.



Working Muslim men and women face their own challenges. Most of them continue to work during lunch and get off an hour earlier. This results in curiosity from their non-Muslim coworkers, who become impressed after understanding what lies behind the fasting.


Turkey: Tears Over the Old Glory



With happiness, the Turkish people welcome Ramadan. In fact, this great people still proving steadfastness and love for this great religion that encompasses all aspects of life.



"Ramadan has come, light the minarets and feel joy." This is what occurs at the advent of Ramadan in Turkey from the Maghrib prayer till the early hours in the morning. The Chief of the Authority of Religious Affairs in Turkey says: "We have about 77 thousand mosques in Turkey, for we cannot live without mosques or minarets."

Taraweeh, reciting the Holy Qur'an and making Religious Book Fair in the Olo Jami`(Turkey's Greatest Mosque) in Ankara and Sultan Ahmad Mosque in Istanbul are among the signs of welcoming the month.



After Traweeh is finished, candy is distributed to children who participated in prayer as a way of encouraging them to repeat the deed.

In ordinary days, the local radio and TV known as TRT1-TV broadcasts a religious program of a quarter of an hour. In Ramadan, two religious programs are broadcast before Iftar and Suhoor in addition to many TV serials in various times of the day as a way of celebrating the blessed month.




Ramadan in Burma

The Muslims of Burma welcome the blessed month of Ramadan with esteem, joy and happiness. The sighting of the crescent is a great thing, as all of them go to high places to see the crescent for themselves. In the month of Ramadan, people gather in the mosque to recite the Qur’an in the day and for Tarawih and Tahajud (late night) Prayers in the night. Most people in Burma also do ‘I`tikaf (seclusion in the mosque during the last ten days of Ramadan).

In the nights of Ramadan, the markets and shops are closed because everybody is busy with their worship. In Burma, people sleep immediately after Tarawih Prayer and do not stay awake until Fajr time. After the Fajr Prayer they set forth to their work.

Muslims first break their fast with dates and water. And they break it in a marvelous way such as reading poems of different kinds. Their foods are many. Local foods include lury fera, a special dish of bread, rice and chicken.

Their way of celebrating the `Eid is no different from that of other countries because it is an Islamic occasion. Thus it is celebrated according to the Prophetic tradition. There is no culture or custom that goes against the Islamic practice.



The Comoros Islands

The Comoros are found off the east coast of Africa, between Mozambique and Madagascar.



On the coast of the Islands, the Muslims keep awake till the morning time. The Muslims of the Comoros rejoice to welcome the blessed month of Ramadan from the beginning of the month of Sha`ban. In Ramadan, they decorate the mosques with lamps and gather there to perform prayer and recite the Glorious Qur’an. Also, they give out charity and increase their good deeds.

On the first night of Ramadan, people go out of their houses to the coast with their lamps in their hands. The rays of their lit lamps reflect on the sea, and they beat their drums to announce the arrival of Ramadan and remain there until midnight.

Among the well-known foods of the Comoros are soup, meat, mango, and so on. The people drink the juice of pineapple and other fruits.


The Crescent Never Appears in Afghanistan





In Afganistan, the people begin to fast as soon as the crescent moon is sighted in any of the Islamic countries because the topography makes it difficult to see the crescent there.

To prepare for the month, people start to buy food stuffs and they customarily break their fast together. In public places and mosques different entertainments are organized and people observe their religious duties and struggle to finish reading the Glorious Qur’an in the month of Ramadan. Scholars organize conferences and sessions to explain the meaning of the Qur’an, especially after the Tarawih Prayer.

The most well-known foods are rice, meat, and milk and pomegranate is a favorite drink after the meal. Farm work decreases during Ramadan, but work continues in the factories and companies but with decreased hours during Ramadan.


Ramadan in Tanzania

In Tanzania, the month of Ramadan has a special place in the minds of people as they prepare for Ramadan right from the middle of Sha`ban, as they bedeck the streets with decorations and electric lights, and also beautify the mosque and all the neighboring shops. Then they exchange visits and gifts between families.

As preparation for the month of Ramadan, most Muslims fast on Mondays and Thursdays in the month of Sha`ban until Ramadan comes when all of them will fast, starting from children of twelve years up to the old people. Those who do not pray are called atheists, pagans and unbelievers. It is regarded as an enormity and punishable under the law for a Muslim to eat during the day in Ramadan and to be seen on the street eating. All the shops are always closed in the daytime. Even the cafeterias in the hotels are not to be opened except after the sunset prayer, and even a non-Muslim is ashamed of eating in the daytime during Ramadan.

Some of the foods used to break fast are dates, water sweetened with sugar, coffee, rice, fish and vegetables.




Uzbekistan Back to Islam

Uzbekistan is one of the hottest spots in the world with the temperature reaching more than 40° C (104° F) in summer. Even when it falls in summer, Ramadan is still one of the most beloved seasons in the country.

After the Communist Revolution, a fierce attack was waged against religion.
Mosques were closed, prayer was banned, and Muslims could no longer fast or make Hajj due to the strict reign of the Communist authorities.

Now with the coming of leniency and the end of oppression, Muslims have regained their joy in their religion and seize the chance of the holy month to gather for iftar.

Each gathering starts with reciting the Qur'an and supplicating Allah to bless the host and his family. After they have finished eating, the guests and host rush to the mosque to perform `Isha Prayer and Taraweeh. What a great feeling to be free!



Ramadan in Japan
(The Land of the Shining Sun)




A dialogue with the head of the Islamic center in Japan

Muslims of Japan share their brothers all over the Muslim world the happiness of receiving Ramadan. We have conducted a dialogue with the head of the Islamic center in Japan who spent about 25 years in the field of Islamic Da`wah (Call to Allah) concerning receiving Ramadan in Japan and how Muslims of Japan lead their life during this honorable month.

He stated that Muslims in Japan prepare themselves for receiving Ramadan long time before its coming. A permanent committee called “the Committee of Ramadan and the two Feasts” has been formed in the Islamic center for discussing preparation for Ramadan. The committee starts its work with sighting the new moon. Mostly, it is too overcast to be seen. In such case, we follow Malaysia, the nearest Islamic country to us. Then, when it’s confirmed that the new moon has been sighted, the center declares that to the public. The center takes on its shoulder answering questions of Japanese Muslims concerning the new moon, times of Prayers, Fasting, etc.

On this occasion, we always publish a calendar showing times of prayers and the approximate times for refraining from eating and drinking at dawn and breaking fast at sunset during Ramadan. The center distributes this calendar to mosques, and various Islamic gatherings and meetings all over Japan. Another calendars are distributed to restaurants that sell Halal (lawful) food. Obviously, the center as well as all the other Islamic gatherings makes the necessary preparations for receiving this blessed month properly. Working for Islam is activated during this month which is the best of months and one of the distinctive features of the Muslim Ummah.

Ramadan in Malaysia






Malaysia is one of the greatest Muslim countries. The Malaysian Muslims receive the month of Ramadan with great joy and unequalled happiness. They change their style of living during this honorable month. Reciting the Ever-Glorious Qur’an, remembering Allah and staying at mosques are their main concern. On the few last days of Sha`ban, Muslims of Malaysia prepare themselves for receiving Ramadan. They prepare mosques for prayer and buy their necessities of food. On the 29th night of Sha`ban, the Ministry of Religious Affairs tries to sight the new moon. When the sighting is established, the ministry declares it via mass media. Muslims exchange congratulations due to the advent of Ramadan. On this great occasion, the local authorities sprinkle streets with water, clean yards and public squares and hang electric lamps in the main streets.

As for the way of receiving Ramadan in the countryside, Muslims there celebrate the occasion through gathering at mosques and congratulating one another. Also, they exchange meals of breaking the fast.

The rich and well-to-do traders normally establish feasts for providing meals of the breaking of the fast at mosques and in the streets.

Truly, the Malaysian community is distinguished with special kinds of meals.

Mostly, all family members attend prayer in the mosque regularly. Schools for teaching the Qur’an are widespread all over the country. The government encourages these schools which intensify their courses during this month. They teach Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence), Tafsir (Exegesis of the Qur’an), the Islamic Creed, the Arabic language besides the Ever-Glorious Qur’an. The Malaysians conclude the month of Ramadan with completing reciting the Honorable Qur’an in mosques, schools, TV, Radio, etc. Then, they make other celebrations for receiving the blessed `Eid Al-Fitr.

A Special Taste in Morocco






In Morocco as well as in other Muslim countries, Ramadan has a special taste. During weekends, Moroccans residing in big cities travel to the countryside to enjoy fresh air and practice joyful sports.

Civil servants are permitted to leave work as soon as they hear “Allahu Akbar,” Allah is the Greatest. In addition, it is dominant to see people treating one another kindly and an atmosphere of compassion, forsaking the fake glory of this worldly life encompasses all.

In Morocco, the Night of Qadr, is characterized by a special occasion. The father accompanies his male children after breaking the fast to the Mosque in order to pray `Isha and Taraweeh in congregation. Female children, on the other hand remain in the house rejoicing with neighbors until the father comes back home. Upon the father’s return, all rejoice and go sightseeing in the city’s capital.

The Boom of Old Canons, Cairo




By every dawn and every sunset, the Egyptian citizens hear the boom of an old canon, declaring the time for breaking the fast (Iftar) and the time for stopping eating (Imsaak).

The canon known as "Hajjah Fatimah" is an inheritance from the old day of Muhammad Ali Pasha or, according to some traditions, goes back to the days of an Ottoman governor called Khosh Qadam.

Though the canon itself has been changed and replaced with a new one, the name remained unchanged. Now the canon is placed on the plateau of Moqattam near to the Citadel. Four men are there to take care of the canon and use it to alarm people that it is time for Iftar or Imsaak.



In Pakistan, Mosques Are Never Empty





With the coming of Ramadan, Pakistani citizens make `Umrah their first concern. Though straitened may be their circumstances, they never lose such a chance.

In Pakistan, Friday markets are everywhere to provide people with their basic needs at low prices. Pakistani women begin preparing Iftar at a very early time of the day in addition to some light drinks and meals. After Taraweeh, supper is offered which is mostly a good spicy meal.

During the last ten days, the case is different as men gather together to have Suhoor in nearby mosques. Before Suhoor time, they begin reciting and studying the Qur'an.

Days before `Eid Al-Fitr (Lesser Bairam) candy is distributed and markets are open around the hour so that people can get their needs for `Eid.

Before `Eid Prayer begins, Pakistani people wear new clothes and head to the public playground to perform `Eid Prayer. Kissing one another and exchanging congratulations the Pakistanis show their joy with the coming of the Lesser Bairam, `Eid Mubarak.


Mauritanians: Praying and Drinking Green Tea

At the beginning of Ramadan, Mauritanians especially the youth hasten to perform regular prayers at their appointed times in Mosques. It is worth stressing here that Mauritanians start celebrating the month of Ramadan as soon as the month of Rajab draws to a close.

In Mauritania, it is no wonder to see the haves, especially the stingy, showing sympathy towards the have-nots during Ramadan. The sense of solidarity and backing the poor is widely spread.

During the nights of Ramadan, the `Isha and Taraweeh prayers are aired live from the Two Holy Shrines of Makkah and Al-Madinah. After prayer people usually set at ease to listen to religious lessons and heart softeners from the reliable scholars and Imams in addition to reciting the Qur’an and listening to it.

After prayer, it is easier to see people visiting one another and drinking Green Tea, which is a common drink in Mauritania.


Muslims in Germany Celebrate Ramadan

Together with believers in Muslim countries throughout the world, Muslims living in Germany have entered the month of Ramadan. Ramadan in Germany takes place in a totally different atmosphere than in countries with a Muslim majority. Public and social life continues with the same speed and the running of the day does not know any interruptions, like for the Iftar. A difference also lies in the length of the day in Germany, which is a challenge in the summer, but is quite short in the winter period. This year the sun rises roughly at 8 am and sets at 4 pm.

Only those of the estimated 3.5 Million Muslims living in Germany, who live in one of the Islamic quarters of Berlin or the Ruhr area with a high percentage of Muslims living there might be reminded of the empty streets of Cairo or Istanbul during Iftar. Ali Ozkan, a Muslim from Berlin, was quoted by the Islamic Newspaper saying that it was a sign of this blessed month that the social life of Muslims becomes more noticeable than during the rest of the year. That food is offered everywhere and people eating and drinking can be seen during the day also changes the atmosphere but is not a major obstacle. Non-practicing Muslims prefer Ramadan in Western countries arguing that as Muslims there live in a minority the decision whether or not to fast becomes personal without any social pressure from others.

Shift-working Muslims have to use their pauses to break the fasting. Arrangements probably can be made especially as large companies who employ large numbers of Muslims handle these issues with pragmatism. But they preferred to spend the Iftar at home with their families and friends in a nicer atmosphere.

Those who are settled abroad without their families gather in their national communities to celebrate. Open-minded Germans participate in these gatherings and seek to understand the beliefs of Muslims. Some also join the fasting for a couple of days to get to know the feeling of it. In fact, Hasan Ozdogan, the head of the Islamic council in Germany said in a message that many communities would also invite their non-Muslim neighbors for the Iftar.


Ramadan in Austria

There is about 150,000 Muslims of different nationalities in Austria; among them are Arab, Turkish and others. Exactly the case in Muslim countries, Muslims celebrate Ramadan by observing Islamic rites, like performing Taraweeh Prayer at about fifty mosques in Vienna and other Austrian cities. Muslims there also go to the mosques regularly to listen to religious lectures on Islamic jurisprudence, exegesis of the Qur’an and other sciences.

However, mosques differ in their way of celebrating Ramadan. As regard the Islamic Center in Vienna, established and funded by Muslim countries, services go on in full swing, as sermons are delivered and lectures given by a group of reverent Muslim scholars from Al-Azhar and other places, Taraweeh Prayers are performed regularly. Moreover, the center provides a breakfast for Muslims throughout the month.

There are also other Islamic centers and mosques financed by the Turkish community in Austria. Such centers provide Muslim communities in Austria with Islamic books, and they also provide meats and chicken slaughtered on the Islamic way.

The Egyptian club in Austria also plays a great role in gathering the Austrian-based Egyptians together during Ramadam on breakfast banquets. When Ramadan ends, all Muslim communities gather in the Islamic center to celebrate `Eid after performing `Eid Prayer. Such celebration is a special occasions for Muslims there to get together in the atmosphere of love and brotherliness.


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.

Ramadan in Sweden

Islam has spread all over the world, so that it became the second religion in Sweden and other countries in the Northern Pole. Lady Na`ilah, the founder and head of Muslim Women Assembly in Sweden, tells us about Ramadan ceremonies in Sweden and the problems that face them there as a Muslim minority:

‘As for the problem that face Muslims here, it is the issue of sighting the new moon of Ramadan; this causes a lot of problem and stirs arguments due to the lack of a center body on which all Muslims will rely for this important issue. Yes, there is an Islamic center here, but its services cannot cover all Muslims dispersed in different places, besides, the Swedish media renders no assistance. However, people mostly follow the crescent sighting in Makkah, to know the beginning of Ramadan and the day of `Eid.

There is a big difference between the way of celebrating Ramadan in all Scandinavian countries and in other European countries, because the number of Muslim minority in the former is somehow lower than the number of Muslims in the latter. Yet, despite the few number of Muslims here in Sweden, Ramadan forms a very special spiritual occasion, which all Muslims nail-bitingly wait for from year to year. No sooner had the Muslim scholars sighted the crescent of Ramadan than people begin to congratulate one another and set forth to perform Taraweeh Prayer at the nearest mosque, or say, some places hired by Muslims for prayer, for there are no mosques. In these places, Muslims hold sessions in which they remember Allah throughout Ramadan.


Ramadan in Thailand





Muslims in Thailand form one-third of the Thai people. Because of the huge manifestations of celebrating the month of Ramadan, aThai citizen feels as if the number of Muslims doubles everyday.

During Ramadan, a new mosque is inaugurated mostly in every city and in every village. All the year round, Muslims of each city collect money for establishing the new mosque which is usually opened in the month of Ramadan. People here are keen on working by themselves in building these mosques. Memorizers of the Ever-Glorious Qur’an are happily carried on shoulders to be examples for the rest of Muslims and to encourage the youngsters to memorize the Glorious Qur’an as well.

In the first day of Ramadan, each Thai Muslim family even the poor families are keen on slaughtering in commemoration with the coming of this blessed month. Obviously, slaughtering in the first day of fasting is a Thai habit that has been witnessed and still a long time ago.

Among the beautiful manifestations of this month is that people, here, used to have the meal of breaking the fast in groups; the matter which is considered to be a kind of good treatment and sincere love. The Thai Muslims incline towards having large amounts of fruits during this month. Interestingly enough, spending the month of Ramadan in their country is normally among the habits of the Thai Muslims. Thus, most travelers, overseas workers and even students who study abroad usually come back to spend the month of Ramadan with their families.


Ramadan in the United States





There are an estimated six to eight million Muslims in the United States, comprised mainly of immigrants from the Arab world, as well as converts to Islam. Regardless of their country of origin, American Muslims observe Ramadan with a set of traditional rituals. Families shop at Halal meat stores, prepare Iftar meals to break their fast with family and friends and pray together. Some Muslim Americans shop for special items such as dates and Ramadan sweets at specialty food stores.

Shala Haroun, an American Muslim from Kashmir, misses the big family gathering on Ramadan. "Ramadan back home is a lot more fun, there is a lot more family, a bigger Indian community and you get your whole family together, while here you are with just a couple of your family."

Islamic centers and mosques are thriving with Muslim American praying and reading the Koran. Imam Hassan Qazwini of the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Michigan says the center has a special program for Ramadan. "Every night, after the nightly prayers, the Islamic Center will hold a special session that consists of recitation of the holy Koran, the interpretation of the Koran, as well as some other lectures."

He says as many as 1,000 people go to daily evening prayers at the Islamic Center of America during Ramadan, and there will be a special program for American-born Muslim Americans.

"The English-speaking part of our congregation, we will have a special program for them. We believe that these will be the ambassadors of Islam to non-Muslims. They will be the ones who will carry the banner of Islam, therefore there will be a very specialized program catered to the youth."

For Muslim American groups, Ramadan has served as a means to educate the American public about the holidays of Muslims and the Islamic faith. Dawud Walid is the executive director in Michigan of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations. "[The] Council on American Islamic Relations sends out information relating to Ramadan to our non-Muslim constituency and friends as well as we organize programs in which we speak about Ramadan. We do this in conjunction with not only Islamic centers but even with groups and interfaith groups as well, so this has been a highly successful campaign."

Some events planned by Muslim Americans to educate other Americans about Islam during Ramadan include holding open houses at local mosques and Islamic centers, public lectures on Ramadan and interfaith Iftars. Muslim American organizations also place TV ads to remind all Americans that Muslims are an integral part of the American society.

Since the early 1990s, the president has issued happy Ramadan greetings to the more 1.2 billion Muslims worldwide, and he invites the ambassadors of Muslim countries and Muslim American leaders to the White House for Iftar.


Ramadan in China: Qur’anic Recitations, Taraweeh, Sweets and More

With the approach of Ramadan, Local Imams in China begin informing people about the teachings of the Qur’an and the Prophetic Sunnah especially those teachings related to fasting and its morals. During Ramadan, it is remarkable to see Chinese Muslims sticking to the tenets of Islam and its rituals.



Chinese Muslims are accustomed to pray Taraweeh 20 Rakh`as (prayer units). Muslims gather together and say after every two Rak`ahs: “O! You who changes hearts and eyesight, O! You who creates day and night, strengthen our Faith along the path of truth.”

In China, Many religious activities such as reciting the Qur’an before Taraweeh and celebrating Laylat-ul-Qadr (the Night of Power) are held during Ramadan. In addition, tea, candy and dates are known to be among the distinguishing features of this blessed month.

As soon as the month of Ramadan draws to a close and `Eid approaches, it is no wonder to see Muslims enjoying happiness and exchanging heart-to-heart congratulations.



Ramadan in Indonesia




At the end of the month of Ramadhan and its special religious observance is the Eid holiday, called Idul Fitri or Lebaran in Indonesia. In Indonesia, this is the time when Muslims visit their family and friends to ask for forgiveness for any wrongs they have committed in the previous year. They express this wish in the phrase “Mohon Maaf Lahir Batin” which means "forgive me from the bottom of my heart/soul for my wrongdoings in the past year". A traditional Arabic (Muslim) greeting for the Eid celebrations is also commonly used in Indonesia "Minal Aidin Wal Fa Idzin", which is expressed upon meeting friends and family during the festive days. Traditional foods are consumed, family and friends gather to ask forgiveness and exchange greetings, new clothing is worn, children receive gifts of money and visits are made to recreational parks -- all to celebrate the successful completion of the fasting month. On Java, prior to the start of the fasting month (but not during it), visits are made to the graves of family ancestors (nyekar) to pay respects, clean the grave and leave flowers, causing major traffic jams near all major cemeteries.

Idul Fitri begins with mass prayer gatherings early in the morning at mosques, open fields, parks and on major streets. It is an amazing sight to see rows of hundreds of Muslim women all dressed in their mukena (white, head-to-toe prayer gowns) performing the synchronized prayer ritual. Muslim men tend to wear sarong, traditional shirts and peci hats to Idul Fitri morning prayers. On the walk home from the mass prayers, quick visits are made to friends in the neighborhood to ask for forgiveness.

Following the morning prayers and neighborhood visits, visits are made to close family members around town. Family members go to their parents first and then to the most senior relative's house (oldest person in the family) to “Mohon Maaf ...” with family members. Then depending on your age/status in the family, you visit aunts and uncles homes to do the same. At each house drinks and cookies or snacks are served, and since it is very impolite to refuse the food, by the end of the day you are so full you can hardly move. These customs may entail several days of visiting relatives and often there will be a gathering of family members at the senior-most relative's house.

Employees may also visit the homes of their senior bosses in the company or critical business colleagues and government officials to "Mohon Maaf ... " after their family visits are completed. In Jakarta, these customs entail days and days of visiting relatives and colleagues resulting in a great time of family reunions and upset to normal working/living schedules. Many people also take the opportunity of the Lebaran holiday to visit recreational parks.

While gathering with family, it is customary for the adults to give the young children some money ... they may meet you at the door shaking their wallets! It is also customary to distribute money to children in the poor neighborhoods around your home, Rp 500 or 1,000 per child will bring huge smiles to their faces!

In Jakarta neighborhoods there may also be organized fun and games sponsored by local businesses ... including climbing a greased pole to try to get to the prizes on the top called panjat pinang. A fun site to see!

Strongly held traditions to visit family at this time necessitate the exodus of 3 1/2 million (yes million!) people from Jakarta alone, as well as additional millions from other urban centers, to rural villages and hometowns for the Lebaran holiday. The logistics of this exodus cause headaches for the government each year. During this period the streets in Jakarta are nearly empty as the population decreases by nearly one third. The hardships and inconveniences endured by the travelers in overcrowded buses, trains and cars is unbelievable, yet they feel that this is a small price to pay to spend the holidays with their family and friends. Traditionally these urban dwellers come bearing gifts or money earned during the previous year for their family.

They often return from the exodus accompanied by relatives and friends looking for work in the cities, furthering the pressures of urbanization. The government attempts to prevent the “socially undesirable” such as beggars, vagrants and others from migrating to the cites, but the task is overwhelming.

During the weeks after Lebaran many groups hold halal bilhalal gatherings where employees from a company, friends, colleagues or members of an organization gather to share a meal and ask each other's forgiveness. Non-Muslims are often invited to participate in these festive gatherings also.





RAMADAN IN SINGAPORE



Ramadan falls on the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. It is a time of worship, reflection and seeking self-purification of one's body and soul. Muslims are encouraged to perform extra devotional activities during the month of Ramadan. In the evenings, the mosques are filled with people attending special night prayers, known as tarawih .

Street Feasts
Every year during the month of Ramadan, the Geylang Serai ( Malay Village , a replica of traditional Malay houses of olden times) comes alive with street bazaars after tarawih prayers. Most of the Muslims live or gather here so it is always filled with large crowds. The street bazaars and night market are called ‘ pasar malam ' and are filled with people selling festive items. You can buy new carpets, clothes, bags, nasheed CDs and general household items.

A wide variety of food is also sold at the bazaar. This includes kueh -mueh (Malay cakes and pastries), otah-otah (grilled fish paste in banana leaves), cakes, buns, breads, curry, noodles and delicious curry puff pastries. During the night, the whole place is lit up with glittering lights and decorations, giving the area its much-cherished ethnic flavour .

Bright Lights
The Jalan Sultan area of the city is another hub of activity during Ramadan. The oldest mosque in the city, Sultan mosque, which is a national monument, is situated here. The whole area is decorated with bright lights and a wide variety of food is sold.

Most Muslims buy food in Geylang Serai or Jalan Sultan to bring home to eat to break their fast or at sahur (pre-dawn) time. Both Muslims and non-Muslims enjoy these seasonal street feasts.

One dish which is only served during Ramadan is a mouth-watering rice porridge which is not to be missed. This dish is cooked in every mosque to give out to the Muslims after Asr' (mid-afternoon) prayers. Most Muslim families break their fast by eating the porridge first. It symbolizes shukr , gratitude to Allah.