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Mosque in Kazan
The holy Muslim month Ramadan has started this week on August 1 in Russia and will last for thirty days. It is time for strict fasting, diligent praying, reading Quran, giving charity.
About 20 million Muslims, who live on the territory of Russia, celebrate this holiday. The number is more than in different traditional Muslim counties. The main areas of inhabitance are Povolzhe (Volga Region) and North Caucasus. Though a big number of Muslims live in Moscow, capital of Russia. In the Volga Region the major Muslim people are Tatars (5.6 million or 4% of total population of Russia) and Bashkirs (1.7 mln). In the North Caucasus they are Chechens, Ingush, and Muslims of Dagestan. There are also Azerbaijani (about 1 mln).
The true believers have to reject eating, drinking and all kinds of entertainment for all the period of fast in the daylight. Considering the geographical position of Russia, the daylight lasts no less than 16 hours this month in 2011.
Theologians see only pluses in this situation.
A person is fasting for 16 hours and doesn't take even some water. He starts understanding unfortunate people, he starts helping them more, as well as to his country. He will do it to help other people to avoid such problems, says Damir hazrat Gizatullin, a member of Council of mufti of Russia.
It is an educative part. But we don't fast to please people. We want to please Allah, added he.
The fast easing is allowed to pregnant and nursing women, children and sick people.
Ramadan traditions
Food traditions in Chechnya
The fast starts in new moon and lasts till the next new moon, that is for 29 or 30 days. During the whole month the Muslims abstain from eating and drinking in the daylight. They may eat only after the sunset.
In Chechnya the food is diverse and substantial during this month. The Chechen cuisine is one of the oldest in the Caucasus, its dishes are tasty and nourishing.
Chechen families prefer national food in Ramadan as it's more healthy. The popular Chechen proverb says If you cook for three persons, the fourth will be fed as well. There are not too many spices in the food. Mostly floury dishes with various fillings are cooked. If the fillings are pumpkin or cottage cheese, the dishes are called khingalsh and chepalgash relatively. Galnash is made out of wheat and maize flour.
Chechen cuisine is reach in vitamins and greenery. Apart from greenery which is nearly always served to the table, the favorite dishes are made of ramson and nettle. The most important ingredients of most dishes are hot spices, i.e. onion, garlic, pepper. The people also like meat broth, mutton, beef, poultry and dried meat.
Reading Quran
Every person no matter his,her age, education and occupation should read or reread Quran in full. This should be done not to show off, but for the person himself,herself.
Modern traditions
Some modern traditions have appeared in Russia. They are mostly connected with the way of celebrating the Ramadan. In some places selling alcoholic drinks is forbidden during the month. In Tatarstan, the Muslims who can't keep the fast may do some charity in the amount of 100 rubles instead, as www.sknews.ru reports. In Chechen republic the head of Chechen government Ramzan Kadyrov has called warring families to be reconciled during this month. Last year a special committee was created to settle down conflicts based on blood feud in Grozny.
Since 2007 it is a tradition to open Ramadan marquee in Kazan for iftar, the joint meal. From 15 to 29 August 2011 the sixth annual Ramadan marquee will be opened in Moscow in the territory of memorial Mosque in Poklonnaya Hill.
Ramadan is usually finished with the holiday of Uraza-Bajram (Eid ul-Fitr). This year it will be on August 30.
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, the holiest and the most glorious of all other months.
www.ntv.ru www.sknews.ru www.kp.ru www.islamrf.ru
Author: Irina Fomina
