Ramadhan

This week is the third week of Ramadhan ~ the holy month of fasting observed all over the world by Muslims.

And so around 2:00am groups of young men will circle their neighborhoods! They are beating on drums, and banging spoons on a pan! It is time to wake up and begin your day! And just incase you have fallen back to sleep, the penjaga or neighborhood watchman makes his rounds banging a stick on the metal fence post to remind you it is time to get up!

The women are up and cooking, and the family is anxiously waiting so that everyone can a share a meal together before the first light of dawn breaks over the sky. From sun-up to sun-down men and women alike fast from eating, drinking, smoking and other earthly pleasures in an act of obedience and submission to Allah. They are learning to suppress these desires in order to increase their spiritual piety and find favor with Allah.

The fast is broken at sunset and usually begins by eating dates, if the family can afford to buy them. Cool drinks, and sweet snacks are served as well. Extended family members gather to break the fast together with specially cooked foods! And so it will go on like this, day after day until the month is complete 29 or 30 days later.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, and is an obligation for all devout Muslims. Every adult and youth (those who have reached the age of puberty) are expected to fast with exceptions given to children, women who are pregnant or nursing, travelers and those who are sick. For more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan