Ramadan is one of the holiest months of the Islamic calendar, which is why it is celebrated with full enthusiasm as well as with pure devotion to Allah SWT be it in an Islamic country or any other country with Muslim minorities.
In India, Muslims might be in minority but still, the month of Ramadan brings about glorious celebration but most importantly, it highlights the true virtue of Islam. So, how is it celebrated in India?
Read on to find out the 6 things that you need to know!
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Just like any other country in the world, Indian Muslims go through Sahur and Iftar as well. The Sahur time consists of various Indian delicacies to ensure that one doesn’t feel hungry throughout the day. Moreover, the Sahur time is also when a lot of Indian Muslims pray incessantly, in this holy month.
The Iftaar often consists of grand meals too, involving starters, main course, as well as desserts. Various Indian families send each other Iftar food which brings about a feeling of unity and brotherhood. Many of them also feed the poor. Thus, bringing in the true essence of Islam.
Sahur and Iftar parties were also a common concept in India. These are cultures that will guarantee Muslims in India will experience during Ramadan, and will continue to long for them until the next Ramadan. To celebrate with significant others and share the joy.
Zakat is yet another important aspect of Ramadan in general, including the Indian Ramadan.
Indian Muslim families take out their fair share of Zakat and distribute it amongst the poor and needy. Many Indian Muslims also contribute Zakat and other donations to Mosques, orphanages, and many other such places.
Indian Muslims go to the Mosques for their daily five Prayers. However, along with those, many Muslim men also go to Mosques for Tarawih (the special Ramadan Prayer). On the other hand, Indian Muslim women hold Tarawih Prayers at home where many of them gather and offer their Prayers to the Almighty.
Other than Tarawih, Khatam-E-Quran also takes place where people gather and read the Quran together every day. This certainly makes the whole experience extremely blissful and harmonious and gives you a sense of belonging in this ephemeral world.
The Night of Layalat Qadr or Shab-E-Baraat holds extreme importance for Muslims all over the world, including Indian Muslims.
As praying sincerely on this night helps in getting your sins forgiven by the Almighty, many Indian Muslims stay up till dawn and keep praying. Many of them recite Quran and important Surahs to celebrate this significant night in the Holy month of Ramadan.
You may already know that India is rich in its food diversity as well and there are many regions that are dominated by Islamic-style cuisine.
So, you would find many festivities on the streets of Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and many other Indian cities. During Ramadan, these streets are filled with food vendors selling mouth-watering delicacies.
For instance, you can find plenty of food stalls near Muhammad Ali Road in Mumbai and Shahjahanabad in Delhi. The heavenly aroma of the special Iftar food items wafting through the streets is definitely one of the best things about celebrating Ramadan in India.
Lastly, we cannot finish talking about Ramadan, without talking about Eid Al-Fitr.
After fasting and praying for 30 days, Indians celebrate Eid with full enthusiasm and love. They cook Eid-special dishes like Sheer Khurma, Biryani, Malpua, etc., and arrange family gatherings. Men gather in the Mosques for the special Eid Prayer.
Moreover, in big Indian cities, the whole environment feels lively with streets filled with special Eid markets, jam-packed restaurants, with a spirit of happiness, blessings, and gratitude!
Many Indian Muslims stay at home and celebrate Eid with their family over grand brunches and lavish dinners.
To conclude, celebrating Ramadan in India has its own different feeling because even though it’s not a complete Muslim majority, the people of different religions come together and make this holy month a beautiful and pious one!
So, if you get a chance to celebrate Ramadan in India, do embrace it because it surely will be a one-of-a-kind experience!
