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 Gah. 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.