Ramadan/Ramzan 2019 - The Month of Eid-ul-Fitr

Ramadan is an extremely holy month for Muslims. Ramadan is considered to be a blessed month, wherein Muslims fast during the entire month and pray daily. During this month, people perform many charitable deeds. Also, in this Holy Month, Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of Al-Qur'an (in one of the last ten odd nights of Ramzan).

Ramzan/Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar wherein Muslims fast during the entire month which lasts for 29 or 30 days, depending on the lunar calendar of the year. Ramadan starts with the sighting of the crescent moon (hilal) and lasts for a period of one month. Though the date of Ramadan may vary from country to country depending on whether the moon has been sighted or not.

How is Ramadan Fasting done?

The month of Ramadan requires every Muslim above the age of 12 to perform obligatory fast. Fasting is one of the five major pillars of Islam and has great religious significance for Muslims as it teaches self-restriction and patience. The fasting is performed in the following four phases:

• Suhur – 
• During the month of Ramadan, the routine begins a short time before dawn with Suhur which is a pre-fast meal for Muslims after which they do not have anything until dawn.
• Fajr – 
• For Muslims, Fajr is the first prayer of the day out of the five prayers Muslims perform daily. In Ramzan, this marks the beginning of the fast. Two more prayers are performed in between before the fast ends.
• Iftar – 
• After this, the Maghrib prayer is performed. At sunset, the first meal of the day is consumed and is called Iftar. According to the tradition, the fast is ended by eating 3 dates repeating what Prophet Muhammad did to break his fast. This is also a great time to have small get-togethers and have a buffet Iftar party.
• Taraweeh and Isha – 
• Special nightly prayers called, Taraweeh prayers are held at the night and finally, Isha prayers commemorate the day. Quran is recited in these prayers in Mosques all around the world.

Ramadan Fasting Rules

• Strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of Muslims during the Fast of Ramadan.
• Strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of Muslims during the Fast of Ramadan.
• They are not allowed to eat or drink until the sun is present.
• Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting.
• In the evening following the Iftar, it is customary for Muslims to go out visiting family and friends. The fast is resumed the next morning.

Ramadan Practices across Rajasthan

Though Ramzan is followed and celebrated in all the areas of Rajasthan, the festival’s real sheen is seen in the walled Pink city of Jaipur, especially Ramganj Bazaar. The name Ramganj, Ram + Ganj (meaning area) reaffirms that this area is the soul of the city as it houses the oldest mosques that smoothly blend in the wise architecture of the walled city of Jaipur. Ramganj Bazaar is equivalent to the Char Minar of Hyderabad & Jama Masjid of Delhi.

The Heritage Mosque in Jodhpur which is in the local vicinity does the mass communication through a siren system to communicate the beginning and end of fasting period lasting fifty seconds each.

The famous shrine of Khwaja Garib Nawaj in Ajmer is the epicenter of Muslim celebrations and festivities. Devotees flocked to Idgahs in and around the city but it is the shrine of the Sufi saint where a large crowd will be seen from early morning.