Ramadan kicks off a day later in much of Asia
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when the faithful fast from dawn to dusk, began at sunrise on Tuesday in much of Asia, a day after many Muslims in the Middle East began their fasts.
In the Muslim lunar calendar, months begin only when the new moon is sighted, which can lead to variations of a day or two.
Middle Eastern nations, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates, declared that the month would begin early on Monday. But in the Asia-Pacific countries, including Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, began Ramadan on Tuesday after failing to see the crescent moon the previous night. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh also began Ramadan on Tuesday, as did Iran and Jordan.
During Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual intercourse from sunrise until sunset. Even a tiny sip of water or a puff of smoke is enough to invalidate the fast. At night, family and friends gather and feast in a festive atmosphere.
The fasting is aimed at bringing the faithful closer to God and reminding them of the suffering of the poor. Muslims are expected to strictly observe daily prayers and engage in heightened religious contemplation. They are also urged to refrain from gossip, fighting or cursing during the holy month.
In Indonesia, where 90 percent of its 277-million-strong population practice Islam, celebrations ranged from colorful torchlight parades and cleaning family graves to preparing food for predawn breakfasts and elaborate postsundown meals known as “iftars.” Each region in the archipelago nation has its own way to mark the start of Ramadan.
The government set the start of the holiday for Tuesday after teams from more than 100 regions failed to sight the new moon on Sunday. Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas announced the timing on Sunday night.
Mosques flooded with devotees offering the evening prayers known as “tarawih” on Monday night. In Jakarta’s Istiqlal Grand Mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia, tens of thousands of worshipers crammed together shoulder to shoulder.
It’s also an exciting time for business. Hotels, restaurants and cafés all prepare special Ramadan promotions, shoppers flock to shopping centers for new clothes and home decorations for the holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.
In Malaysia, mosques began preparing “bubur lambuk,” a hearty traditional porridge dish made with meat and spices that is distributed for free to the public during Ramadan. But at the same time, critics urged people to keep their iftars to a reasonable size.
The Consumers’ Association of Penang has said food waste increases by up to 20 percent during Ramadan. Some 90,000 tons of food were reportedly thrown out across the country during Ramadan last year, it added.
“Ramadan is supposed to be a month of intense devotion for Muslims, but for some, it has become a month of feasting and wasteful spending,” Mohideen Abdul Kader, the association’s president, said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Now, more than 2 million Palestinians are facing starvation, so we should not be throwing away huge quantities of food in the holy month,” he added.
Rozman Abdul Rahman, a security guard, said his wife would cook just enough to break the fast each day so that no food would go to the landfills. He said rising cost of living also meant essential food items had become more expensive.
He said he enjoyed the fasting season, as it allowed him to build his resilience. He has removed all food and water containers from the security hut where he works to avoid temptation.
“I have been waiting for Ramadan. This is a tough period, but I enjoy it as it tests my faith and helps me to control myself. We cannot even scold people during this period,” said Rozman, 50.