In
most churches one finds a bitter drink prepared
from leaves, vinegar, etc. for everyone to taste
after the service, Holy Saturday is a day of mourning
and wailing. A total silence reigns in the church
from morning to dusk. But by ten at night the
church is full, to observe the Easter Vigil. In
the gloom, which envelops the church, new fire
is struck from flint and blessed. A big candle
is then consecrated and from it is lighted many
candles indicating the resurrection. Bells peal,
music fills the air and light floods the hall.
Halleluyah is the joyous word of Easter wish.
Easter Sunday is a quiet day and the celebration
is rather spiritual and inward rather than social
showy. There will be a grand dinner
at homes and visits of relatives.
| Ramadan |
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Ramadan
is the ninth month of the lunar year.
Legend says that God conveyed the message
of Quran to Hazrat Mohammad through
Gabriel in the days of Ramzan. All through
the month of Ramzan the devout Muslims
keep strict fast. Purification of the
body and soul is the main aim of this
observance. Only before sunrise and
after sunset they take any food. For
the morning "Sehri", generally
cooked in milk, and tea or water is
drunk. Then the call for prayer is heard
from the mosques, and the children and
men set to their mosques to offer "Namaz".
Women stay at their houses and recite
the Koran. But the fasting during the
days of Ramzan does not affect the daily
routine of the Muslims and they go on
with their daily chores. |
As
the sun sets, the call for the Maghrib
prayers are heard from the mosques and
the fast is broken. It is called "Iftar"
and the fast is broken with a sip of
water, a few dates and some fruits.
The food taken in Iftar is called Iftari
and special delicacies like fried cornflower,
boiled grams and lentils, meat kebabs
and sweet meats are taken. Thus the
29 or 30 days of the month of Ramzan
pass and the sighting of the new moon
brings glad tidings of Eid-ul-fitr and
the end of the month of Ramzan. |
| Eid-Ul-Fitr |
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Eid-ul-fitr
means the joy at the end of the days
of fasting. This is the day following
the appearance of the new moon. The
Muslims put on their best clothes. The
Eid prayers are said between the early
morning and the noon prayers. Once the
prayer is over they greet each other:
Eid Mubarak!. This
festival is particularly the favorite
of children. They are given special
money called "Eidee" by their
parents for buying toys and balloons
on this day. Special delicacies are
prepared. They include "Seviyan",
vermicelli's sweet preparation, "Sheer
Korma, and other savoury dishes. |
| Eid-Ul-Zuha |
It
is one of the grandest festivals of
the Muslims and it is also called Bakrid.
It falls on the 10th day of the Muslim
month of Dul- Hajju.
Hazrat Ibrahim was
ordered by Allah in a dream to sacrifice
his dearest thing. So, he decided to
offer his son and with the permission
of his family blindfolded his son and
struck him with his sword. To his amazement
when he opened his eyes he saw that
he had sacrificed a ram in the place
of his son. This is the legend behind
the festival. So on this day a ram or
a goat or a camel is sacrificed and
distributed among the near and dear
ones. |
This
festival falls about two months and
nine days after Eid-ul-Fitr.
On this occasion Muslims who can afford
go on a pilgrimage to Mecca
and this is called Hajj.
On this day others go to the mosque
and offer prayers. Charities are practiced
on this day. |
| Milad-Ul-Nabi |
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This festival
commemorates the birthday of Hazrat
Mohammad and it falls on the 12th day
of Rabi-ul-Awwal month. Prophet Mohammad
was born in 571 A.D on April12th, in
Mecca in Arabia. On the day of Milad,
the Prophet's teachings are repeated,
the Quran is read and religious discourses
are arranged in the mosques. The Muslims
invite their friends and relatives for
a grand feast on this day. |
| Muharram |
This
is the Muslim festival of mourning.
Muharram is observed in the first month
of the Hijri year. The Shia community
in particular celebrates this festival
with great enthusiasm. They fast, offer
prayers and recite the Quran and sing
elegies in homage to the martyrs during
the celebrations. On the final day,
Tajjas are taken out in grand processions,
accompanied by brass brands and bagpipes
playing sad tunes. The Tajjas represent
the mausoleum of Hazrat Imam Hussain.
The processions terminate at Karbala
where the Tajjas are ceremoniously buried.
Hazrat Hussain was the second son of
Fatimah, the prophet Mohammad's daughter. |
The
sad celebration called "Majlis-e-Shoora"
is observed with great passion at Lucknow,
the stronghold of the Shia community
and also at Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
After the burial of the tajjas, they
go to their places and offer money,
etc to the poor. They observe this day
of Martyrdom in peace and silence. Muharram
is in fact a sort of ceremony for showing
gratitude to the departed souls who
fought so bravely for preserving their
faith.
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