By Balqees al Oraimi
Due to differences in customs and traditions among peoples, the expressions of joy for the arrival of the Holy Month among Muslims vary, highlighting the goodness and mercy it brings. However, certain aspects of these celebrations may appear peculiar when compared across different countries.
Indonesia, one of the world’s largest countries with a Muslim majority, boasts a population exceeding 260 million, constituting 88% of its populace. Upon the sighting of the crescent marking the commencement of Ramadhan, the Jakarta government grants students leave during the first week to acclimate to fasting. The most prevalent manifestation of celebration in Indonesia is the tradition of beating traditional drums, known as “Badouq,” as reported by the BBC Radio website.
In Malaysia, local administrations undertake street cleaning upon sighting the Ramadhan crescent, followed by adorning main squares with electric decorations to commemorate the holy month’s arrival. Another notable custom involves women visiting homes to recite the Qur’an between iftar and suhoor.
Yemenis prepare for Ramadhan by painting their homes as a festive welcome to its advent. Collective iftars are organized daily in the streets, adorned with elaborate decorations, accompanied by celebratory gunfire.
Upon confirmation of the holy month’s sighting in Turkey, the tradition of “zaghareed” (sounds women make to express happiness) resonates in every home to convey the joy of impending fasting. Residents commence the ritual of sprinkling rose water and perfumes on doorsteps and surrounding gardens throughout Ramadhan, a cherished inherited custom. Elderly women prepare the first Ramadhan suhoor, featuring the famous Turkish malban, a widely distributed delicacy to mark the holy month.
Chinese Muslims refrain from eating breakfast until after performing the Maghreb prayer, typically consuming a date with heavily sweetened tea. Chinese Islamic kitchens are stocked with cakes and local sweets. Some individuals break their fast with red watermelon before heading to the mosque for prayers.
Sudanese customs include renewing dining utensils before Ramadhan, with iftar often being a communal affair held in large courtyards, where families convene to break their fast together.
In Morocco, the pre-dawn meal is announced by blowing the horn seven times upon confirming the sighting of the Ramadhan crescent. People exchange congratulations with the phrase “Mabrouka tenths,” signifying the blessed days with the onset of fasting and its three tenths: mercy, forgiveness, and blessings.
Egyptian customs entail street decorations, social invitations, and staying awake until the dawn prayer. Stuffed meats, chicken, béchamel, and molokhiya are popular breakfast choices, complemented by juices such as tamarind, khashaf, qamar al-din, and carob.
Suhoor typically consists of beans, yogurt, cheese, and salad. Musaharati take to the streets at one o’clock in the night, drumming and chanting names to rouse people for suhoor, while the last ten days are marked by seclusion in mosques for worship.
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