Rose El Youssef P. 13 (8-9-2008)

Ramadan in India

They celebrate watching the crescent by beating drums and preparing Beryani and Tandoori for Iftar

By: Alaa El Din Zaher

India is a large country whose population reached one billion and more; Muslims represent 13.5 or 15% of this population. They adhere to the rituals of Islam especially in Ramadan as they distinguish them from followers of other religions. Dr. Abdel Meguid Habib, an Indian living in Egypt and works as an Urdu announcer in Radio Cairo Overseas Services, will tell us something about the features of Ramadan in India.

Before the advent of Ramadan, mosques are painted, renovated and new carpets are bought for them. Each mosque has a caller for prayer, and an Imam who leaders the congregational prayers. Mosques become full of prayer performers in Ramadan. During the night prayers coffee and tea are presented during the breaks. After finishing the prayers sweets and food are presented in front of the mosque.

Dr. Abdel Meguid said that Iftar starts after performing the sunset prayer. Then fasters start their Iftar by eating dates and drinking milk. The Indian Iftar includes several dishes including Konafa, and Indian Tamia which is made of chickpeas and spices. There is also Samosa which is stuffed with minced meat.

Dr. Ahmad El Qadi, Professor of Indian and Pakistani Studies at the Faculty of Languages and Translation, Al Azhar University, lived in India during the period from 1987 till 1994 and is married to an Indian lady. He says the Muslims in India start making new cloths to wear during the month of Ramadan and during the Lesser Biram. The night of watching the crescent of the new month is very important to Indian Muslims. They go to public places to watch the crescent and when it is confirmed that the month of Ramadan will start the following day they hug each other in joy and fireworks are seen everywhere.

He added that there are few Egyptians in India and the majority for them are students who are dispersed in all Indian different states. Therefore, when the Egyptian Embassy in India holds an Iftar in Ramadan it is only attended by diplomats. He said that when he was in India he used to invite his friends and colleagues, Muslims and non-Muslims, to Iftar which included Foul and Tamia at the Egyptian style and they used to like them very much.