JAJPUR: At 5 am sharp, Shaik Sahajahan of Bada Mangalpur village under Dharmasala block leaves home to attend the ‘fazar namaz’, a special prayer, at his village masjid. Like Sahajahan, over 75,000 Muslims of 10 blocks and two urban bodies in the district begin their day with this ritual during holy month of ‘Ramzaan’. They observe fast throughout the month. The fast starts at dawn and is broken after sunset.
During Ramzaan month five ‘special namaz’ are offered in every masjid from 5 am to 8 pm daily. All the masjids are white-washed and decorated to give them a festive look. This year, the holy month began on August 23.
‘’The month will end with a day-long celebration of Id-ul-Fitre, the most auspicious festival for the followers of Islam,’’ said Rahim Box, moulana of Bada Mangalpur masjid.
The district has at least 112 mosques with the highest number of 14 in Brahmabarada, a Muslim-dominated village. More than 1,000 Muslims attend the ‘special namaz’ five times a day and recite the holy Koran at Baitul Mahamood Masjid at Brahmabarada, the biggest mosque in the village.
Explaining the significance of the holy month, Urdu Professor of Brahmabarada Degree Mahavidyalaya, Shaik Ruhul Amin said breaking the Ramzaan fast with water is the traditional practice. Dates and fruits are also consumed. Reading the holy Koran and making social visits are also a must. While on fast, some rigid rules have to be followed by the devout Muslims. “Although it is compulsory for all Muslims to observe fast during Ramzaan, there are certain exceptions. Children below the age of 10, insane and sick people, those who are too feeble to keep the fast, and pregnant women are exempted,” said Amin. As per the Muslim law, the exempted persons have to donate a ‘Fitra’, equivalent to the market value of 2,100 grams of wheat (about Rs 27) to the poor for not keeping the fast during Ramzaan month. Besides, each Muslim family has to donate money equivalent to 2.5 per cent of their property on free will, the Urdu professor added. Moulana Abdul Barik, head moulana of Jama Masjid at Brahmabarada said, “There is a strong belief that the doors of paradise are open and the doors of hell are closed during Ramzaan. The followers, who will fast during Ramzaan, will be forgiven for their sins and attain paradise.” With Id-ul-Fitre ahead, Ramzaan gives vendors an opportunity to do brisk business. Several of them have set up makeshift stalls in and around the mosques. “We do a daily business of around Rs 3,000,” said Shaik Zuman, a vendor adding a lot of delicacies are also sold. While the main attractions are ‘lachha’, ‘moraba’ and ‘semei’, available in a variety of colours and flavours, there is a good demand for imported dates too, he added. “While ‘lachha’ is sold at Rs 45-50 a kg, imported dates sell at Rs 125-135 a kg,” said a vendor.