solhkhabar | Peace International News Agency Peace International News Agency , Peace News , International Agency News of Peace
Muslims all over the world fast during the days of this month and make special prayers at night.
The month of Ramadan traditionally begins with a new moon sighting, marking the start of the ninth lunar month in the Islamic calendar.
During this period, Muslims keep fasting and abstain from food, drink, and other certain activities during daylight hours. Those exempted from fasting include children, the elderly, the sick and people on travel.
The challenge of fasting for many is also an opportunity to reset themselves spiritually and physically and get rid of bad habits and purify the heart.
Across Pakistan the decorated mosques are hosting worshipers that come to refine their spiritual body in Ramadan, the month of food-for-soul.
This year the prices of almost all essential items including meat, ghee, cooking oil, flour, onion, chicken, and fruits have seen a significant increase during the last few weeks making the lives of consumers difficult.
Dates, which are traditionally used to break fasts during Ramadan, have also seen their prices increase during the last two months.
The inflation is already being reported at 7.9 per cent and a substantial raised in prices of petroleum products just four days ahead of the fasting month will also likely to add problems for the consumers.
As the temperatures are rising medical experts have advised people to increase water intake to avoid heat storks and to maintain required level of minerals in the body especially during fasting.
The government has also announced that there will be no power cuts during “Sahar and Iftar” timings in Ramadan.
In Ramadan people along with fasting and prayers also prepare special foods. Preparations for iftar commence hours before at roadside stalls.
As the iftar time draws near, the evening is lit up with stalls selling savory treats, mostly traditional Pakistani foods, especially prepared in the month of Ramadan.
Pakistanis like other Muslims typically break their fast by eating dates and drinking water.
In Pakistan iftar is usually heavy, consisting mainly of traditional samosas, pakora and namak para, besides the dates and water. Other items such as roasted meat, chicken rolls, Shami Kebabs, and fruit salads are also very common.
People also do charity in the holy month and try to help the needy as much as possible.
Ramadan ends when the first crescent of the new moon is sighted again. Eid al-Fitr is the Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.
272**1416
Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish