With just a few days remaining until the Islamic month of Ramzan commences, the older parts of Hyderabad are abuzz with bustling activity.
Ramzan, the ninth month of the Hijri calendar, is a time when Muslims devote themselves to prayer and fasting for 30 days, followed by the joyous celebration of Eid ul Fitr.
During this sacred month, special prayers known as ‘taraweeh’ are conducted, where chapters of the holy Quran are recited. These prayers take place after the ‘Isha Namaz’ in various mosques, with separate arrangements made for women in mosques, function halls, and even private buildings.
“At Mecca Masjid, three chapters of the holy Quran will be recited daily during Taraweeh prayers, with separate provisions for women to participate,” stated Khateeb Mecca Masjid, Hafiz o Qari Mohammed Rizwan Qureshi.
Mosques throughout the city are being prepared for the occasion, with management committees enlisting ‘Huffaz’ – individuals who have memorized the entire Quran – to lead the recitations during Taraweeh prayers.
Additionally, arrangements for breaking the fast, or ‘iftar’, are made at mosques and other locations, including shops, shopping malls, and offices. Some generous individuals and businesses even organize free iftar meals, while youth organizations distribute fruits and water bottles at traffic junctions and bus stops to aid those fasting.
Dates, an essential part of the Ramzan month, have flooded the marketplaces such as Begum Bazaar, Mir Alam Mandi, and Mallepally, with over 20 varieties imported from different countries. “Numerous traders are involved in the sale of dates, with the average price of imported dates around Rs. 400 per kilogram,” noted Zain Warsay, a trader.
Furthermore, function halls in the older parts of the city have been rented out by local entrepreneurs to organize the ‘Ramzan Shopping Festival’. These spacious venues provide traders with the opportunity to set up stalls selling a wide array of goods including clothing, cosmetics, bangles, handbags, and footwear.