Ramadan – The Month of Blessings

The month of Ramadan brings with it the blessings of Allah Subhana Wa Ta’ala and the whole month is celebrated like a sacred event throughout the world. In Pakistan this month is celebrated with religious fervor and devotion. The people of Pakistan are religiously devoted and have great passion of Islam in their hearts and the Holy month of Ramadan depicts their love and commitment to their religion as they celebrate it with lighting their mosques and embracing each other on the even of 1^st Ramadan.

They pay Salaams to all their friends, family and the people living in their neighborhoods and then go on to the mosque in order to offer the Taraveeh prayer that is offered only in the month of Ramadan. They sleep early in the night as they have to wake up for Sahar after midnight. Then the women in the house move to kitchen and start preparing the Sahar dishes. Parathas and fried eggs are prepared along with the delicious Pheoni which is a special dish of Ramadan, eaten completely soaked in milk.

Then the boys go on to offer the prayer and return home to recite the Holy Koran. People go on to work and the mosques get filled with devotees during the prayer timings. In the evening, Aftar is prepared in homes and streets of Lahore. Pakoras, Samosas, Fruit salad, sweets, Kachoris and loads of such dishes are prepared. As Lahorites are famous for their love for food, the streets of Lahore exhibit a scene of absolute mess because the rush of people on bakeries and dairies is immense. Then they reach home and wait for the Adhaan to begin, and the moment the loudspeakers of mosques recite the words “Allah-o-Akbar” they finally break the fast with a date following the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w).

Lakshmi Chowk of Lahore, that is famous for the foods and restaurants, is filled with men and traffic is almost blocked as there is hardly any space left for cars to move. The restaurants in Lahore offer special deals in this month with buffets being offered at the time of Sahar and Aftar and food lovers flock to restaurants to enjoy these deals. As the final Ashra of Ramadan nears the rush in the market starts to increase gradually as people start shopping for the Eid. They buy new clothes, shoes and perfumes while girls buy bangles, mehndi and all the jewelry that they have to wear on the day of Eid.

Then there is Shab-e-Qadr on 27^th Ramadan, the day when the Koran began to be bestowed upon the Prophet (s.a.w.w). Special prayers are offered in the mosques on the eve of 27^th Ramadan. and after this night, the rush in the markets mounts dramatically as Eid is almost there and this trend peaks on the night before Eid that is known as the Chaand Raat. Shopping plazas and Bazaars look colorful with their lights on and filled with men and women from all parts of the city.

And then comes the Eid to end this beautiful month of blessings of Allah (s.w.t) and the people offer the Eid prayer and embrace each other. Pakistanis celebrate Ramadan in a wonderful way. There are few countries in the world where any event is celebrated in such a special way like they are held in Pakistan and Ramadan peaks them all.