[wzslider autoplay=”true”]In 12 days will start the holy month, and on Monday, the 6th of June, Muslims will be fasting the first day of Ramadan, which will bring a special atmosphere in homes and cities again this year. The first day of Eid al-Fitr will be on Tuesday, the 5th of July. Just about 2 months later, will follow the Eid al-Adha, on Monday, the 12th of September.
During Ramadan, to Islamic believers is forbidden consumption of any food, drinks (including water), sexual relations and smoking tobacco, from dawn to sunset.
Bosnian Muslims developed several of their customs during the month of Ramadan over centuries. Great importance is given to cleanliness of the house, streets and settlements. Before the onset of Ramadan, everyone is cleaning the mosques, the mosque backyard, streets and thoroughly cleaning and decorating their homes.
The tradition of firing canons from the city walls which announces suhoor (meal with which fast begins) and iftar (meal with which fats ends) is maintained for long time.
During Ramadan are prepared meals specific for this month, and somuni (kind of bread) are an integral part of practices related to the month of fasting. When it comes to specific dishes, we must mention topa (melted cheese), kulak-soup (specific soup), sehrija-soup (specific soup with certain kind of noodles), small kebab, cimbur (omelet) on meat, burek (meat pie), presnac (kind of pie with cheese), and when it comes to deserts, kadaif (specific Bosnian desert), sweet omelet, ruzica (sweet desert with sugar coating), resedija (desert made with flour and jam) and many others.
After the iftar dinner, believers drink the coffee and go to the tarawih prayer (Ramadan prayer) to the nearest mosque. Even those who rarely visit the mosque, usually regularly go to tarawih prayer during Ramadan.
“Fasting is an exercise of endurance, power of will and faith. A Muslim who is fasting decides to meet obligations to God and thus strengthens his character by denying himself the fulfillment of basic human needs: food and drink. Fasting is a way of promotion of solidarity with those who are thirsty and hungry all the time due to poverty.
Muslims in Bosnia always shared the joy of Ramadan and Eid with their neighbors, Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Jews, everyone else… Ramadan is the holiest and most important month for Muslims around the world, as well as for those who live in BiH for centuries and keep Ramadan tradition.
(Source: Radiosarajevo.ba)
