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RAMZAN ID:
This is perhaps, the gayest of the Muslim
festivals. It comes at the end of the Muslim month of Ramzan during which
every devout Muslim fasts by day and eats only at night. It is celebrated
on the day following the appearance of the New Moon at the end of Ramzan
and in the evening anxious crowds are seen watching the fading light of
the western sky for a trace of the moon.
The Ramzan fast, observed during the whole
month begins daily from the time the first streak of daylight is observed
on the horizon till nightfall when the stars become clearly visible. During
the day even drinking water is prohibited but food is permitted to be
eaten at night. Muslims spent the day in reading the Koran.
The odd nights of the last ten days of
Ramzan are known as Lailut-ul-Kadar or "the nights of power",
as the Koran is believed to have descended from heaven on one of these
nights. The actual date and time of the event is known only to Allah and
the Prophet who did not reveal it to his followers. On this night, the
whole of creation is believed to low down mysteriously in praise of Allah.
Community prayer, generally held in an
open space is the most important part in Ramzan Id celebrations. Every
Muslim is commanded by Koran to offer Id prayer with his breathern in
full faith. As the congregation becomes too unwieldy to be accommodated
in a mosque spacious grounds are selected for Community Prayers. It is
required that every Muslim gives alms to the poor and dresses in clean
clothes before attending the public prayer.
The Fitr or alms must be a minimum of two
kilos and a half of wheat or any other grain, dates or grapes. Thus every
member of a Muslim household is under religious obligation to give this
Fitr or alms before proceeding to the ground where Id Prayer or Community
Ibadat is arranged.
After the distribution of alms the congregation
proceeds to the house of the Kazi who is a Muslim religious official or
some other learned and pious man who is detailed to lead the Ibadat and
then the Kazi is conducted to the place of worship.
After the Ibadat or prayer is over, a sermon
is delivered for an hour or so. The preacher then offers extempore supplementary
prayers which are known as `Munajat' to the Almighty Allah for the welfare
of the Muslim faith, remission of sins for all Muslims, for the safety
of pilgrims and travellers, for the recovery of the sick, for timely rain,
preservation from misfortune and freedom from indebtedness. He then comes
down from the pulpit, kneels on a prayer carpet to do "NAMAZ"
supplication on behalf of the people. The congregation at the end of each
prayer , rises up and ejaculates "Faith"- Din.
After the ritual prayers, the assembled
people conduct the Kazi back to his house and the people who had accompanied
him to house take leave of him.
People spend the rest of the day in feasting,
visiting friends and relatives and going to the fairs which are held in
open spaces for the sale of toys and trinkets. Children also enjoy themselves
to their hearts content in these fairs.
Muslims firmly believe that those who neither
give alms freely nor take part in the Community prayers nor observe Ramzan
Id as prescribed by religion, remain suspended after death between heaven
and earth.
Ramzan Id is an occasion for a general
expression of goodwill and friendship. Even those who are dead are not
excluded from the benefit of this Id. So it is a prevalent custom in certain
parts of India for the living wife of a Muslim to offer new clothes and
finery to a former dead wife in a small ceremony which is known by the
name -"SAUKAN MAURA" - which literally means first wife's crown.
Greeting cards printed with "Id Mubarak" which is also the greetings
for this Id festival are sent to friends and relatives also when friends
meet they greet each other saying "Id Mubarak".
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