Adil Babić has been working as a gunner since 1996. By firing the cannon on the Mojmilo Hill, he marks the end of fasting. This year as well, Adil is delighting numerous believers in the settlements Mojmilo, Vojničko polje, Dobrinja, Alipašino polje, all the way to Ilidža.
“I am retired now so I can do this job, which gives me great pleasure. After the cannon, the call for prayer starts, lights on the minarets light up, and the end of fasting on that day is marked,” Babić said.
Unlike the Yellow Fortress, where the gunner is always escorted by a large number of local population and tourists, only rare people visit the cannon on Mojmilo Hill. Among them are the curious children who joyfully run back home after the cannon fires, to have iftar with their families. One of the reasons why rare people visit this cannon is that a protected zone is nearby, so people do not even know about it, Babić believes.
“The cannon consists of the ammunition made of black gunpowder, fired with an electric switch. The cannon fires the ammunition up to 100 meters in the air, where it explodes and sends the sound much farther. The ammunition is placed beforehand and I wait for the second when the fasting ends, and then I fire the cannon to the delight of all those who fast,” Babić said.
The Ramadan cannon is a true attraction for both BiH citizens and tourists. As of this year, one cannon is in Travnik, delighting numerous fasters who have their iftar in the Old Town.
Firing the cannon is a tradition of Bosnian Muslims over one century old. During the communist rule, the tradition was terminated, but in the early 1990s it was revived and is still cherished. The job of a gunner used to belong, and belong even today, to people who enjoy a good reputation in the society.
Cannons used to be fired three times – first time to mark the beginning of sahur or morning meal, the second time to warn that “people leave food, drinks, smoking and everything else and go to sleep”, and for the third time to mark the end of fasting, at the beginning of iftar.
(Source: klix.ba/photo: youtube.com)
