The Bahraini touch to the holy month of Ramadan!
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Nothing brings people in Bahrain together like the holy month of Ramadan. This is a blessed time of the year during which we unite spiritually and we come together with potent drives of forgiveness and strong wishes of prosperity. Bahrain also seizes the annual occasion to reinforce and celebrate traditions and customs passed on from one generation to the next for a long time.
Each society celebrates and prepares for the holy month differently. Bahrainis embrace certain traditions in welcoming Ramadan into their homes. Whether it is a traditional, homemade dish for Iftar, a custom-designed gown, or celebrating with friends and family during a special Ghabga evening, such mores and rituals define our identity as Bahrainis.
The first thing that most people prepare and stock up on is food and fresh produce. Many retail shops and supermarkets offer a variety of products and brands that would facilitate food preparations during the holy month.
This demand for products invariably prompts the government to take monitoring measures as part of its inspection plan for various food outlets. Within the spirit of Ramadan, the Kingdom offers help to the poor and needy as a part of its measures to serve the less fortunate through different charities and food banks.
The holy month of course is not complete without our traditional Bahraini touches. Commercial shops and markets provide a unique collection of traditional garments, Thoubs, and Jalabeyas for all ages.
A visit to the Manama Souq for example will walk you down a variety of selections from jewelry to hand-tailored fabrics that would complete the Ramadan look. This shopping spree is considered an essential trip in the Ramadan preparation plan. Lights and decorations are also ways of welcoming the holy month as streets and households are decorated with different and unique types of embellishments as a form of celebration. The hit of Covid-19 changed our usual Ramadan practices as a community. For example, social distancing and the rise of cases have limited the number of gatherings in the past two years.
This resulted in a major economic fallout and forced people into adopting different attitudes and behavior in line with the health protocols and measures. Many events were banned or restricted, which resulted in a simple and family-orientated Ramadan. Bahrain has certainly made a huge breakthrough during the global pandemic by taking the proper measures and restrictions in keeping its citizens, residents and visitors safe.
The improved situation has led to gradually enabling daily practices and scrapping Covid-19 restrictions, allowing Bahrain to embrace the spirituality of the holy month with ease and happiness. Bans and restrictions on mosques, shops, and markets have now finally been removed as we welcome the holy month, allowing the community to come together closer in the spirit of Ramadan.
“It brings us joy as Ramadan makes its way in. We can finally celebrate with our loved ones and practice our traditions with ease and comfort. Especially that all measures are taken into great consideration as we continue to provide our services to our customers,” supermarket and shop owner Mohammed Jumaa said.
The holy month of Ramadan is more than a set of practices and rituals, and Bahrain defines its unity with certain traditions that bring people together, combining our heritage and Islamic union as we proudly consolidate our identity.
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