New Delhi: The holy month of Ramadan, or Ramzan, will start on Sunday in India. This was announced after the new moon was sighted on Saturday.
Ramadan has already begun on Saturday in countries like Saudi Arabia and Indonesia as the moon was sighted there on Friday.
The month will end on March 30 or 31, depending on the sighting of the moon that will lead to celebrations of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Ramadan is a month of penance, fasting and spiritual reflection among Muslims. During the month, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, making efforts to shun bad habits and evil thoughts from their minds. The fast is broken after the offering of Namaz in the evening when members of the community gather for Iftar.
This is also the season of giving for the Muslims, and generous sums are donated to charity.
Haleem, one of the delicacies, is a favourite among food lovers during this month. Muslims and Hindus alike queue up outside prominent eateries during the evening for a piping hot bowl of Haleem. It’s a dish of meat, lentils and spices that is slow cooked over low heat for hours. While Muslims consider this an essential source of protein after the daylong fast, other communities lap it up, just for the taste.
In cities like Kolkata and Delhi, restaurants even advertise, claiming that the quality and taste of their Haleem is the best.
Nihari is another much sought-after dish during this month. Shanks of meat are cooked in spice overnight to prepare this delicacy. Thousands of people wait for eateries to open, early in the morning, for a taste of Nihari. And not all of them are Muslims.
Muslims prefer to have a bowl of Nihari before they begin their fast, or Roza, as it is called. This high protein item keeps them going throughout the day.
