RAMADAN IN SINGAPORE

Ramadan in SingaporeRamadan falls on the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. It is a time of worship, reflection and seeking self-purification of one's soul and body. Muslims perform

extra devotional activities during the month of Ramadan. In the evenings, the Mosques are filled with people attending special night prayers, known as

Taraweeh.

Street feasts

Every year during the month of Ramadan, the Geylang Serai (Malay Village, a replica of traditional Malay houses of olden times) comes alive with street

bazaars after Taraweeh prayers. Most of the Muslims live or gather here so it is always filled with large crowds. The street bazaars and night market are called 'pasar malam' and are filled with people selling festive items. You can buy new

carpets, clothes, bags, nasheed CDs and general household items.

A wide variety of food is also sold at the bazaar. This includes kueh -mueh(Malay cakes and pastries), otah-otah (grilled fish paste in banana leaves),

cakes, buns, breads, curry, noodles and delicious curry puff pastries. During the night, the whole place is lit up with glittering lights and decorations, giving the

area its much-cherished ethnic flavor.

Preparation for 'Eed

The preparation for 'Eed Al-Fitr begins during Ramadan. Women are busy sewing beautiful new curtains and buy new clothes for the whole family. In addition, 5 days

before 'Eed, the women will start baking cakes like marble cake and cake lapis (layered butter and chocolate cake) and traditional Malay delicacies like kueh makmur, a rich

baked pastry filled with roasted peanuts or almonds mixed with sugar and formed into a leaf shape, kueh tart (pineapple tarts), kueh bangkit (cookies made of tapioca flour)

and many more.

Some families re-decorate their homes in preparation to receive all the guests who will visit them during the festival. Most families also decorate their houses with glittering

lights on their windows, or around the yards of their houses. Some Muslim families light oil lamps during the seven days preceding the festival.

Hari Raya Puasa

'Eed Al-Fitr, or Hari Raya Puasa as it is known in Singapore, is one of the highlights of the Muslim cultural and religious calendar. It is celebrated at the

end of the fasting month, when the new moon is sighted. The Malay words ‘HariRaya' translate as 'Day of Celebration' or the ‘Festival of Breaking the Fast'. Many non-Muslims confuse Hari Raya Puasa with the Muslim New Year.

The celebrations begin with the birth of the new moon of Shawwaal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims usually attend 'Eed prayers in the

Mosque in the morning. This is then followed by a visit to the cemetery where deceased loved ones are remembered, graves are cleaned and cleared of

overgrowth, and prayers are offered to Allaah. Some Muslims visit a day or two before 'Eed instead.

:املصدر

http://www.islamweb.net/eramadan/سما طارق :إعداد