By Najiya O, TwoCircles.net
As always, this year also Kerala is ahead of the rest of the country in beginning the fasting month of Ramadan. Ramadan began on May 6 in Kerala, while in the rest of the country it started on 7th. A major reason for this is said to be the presence of a good expanse of coastal area in the west which makes it easier to sight the moon. Moon sighting is considered very important in the state where qazis of the traditional Sunni groups ask people via newspapers to inform if the moon is sighted to mark the beginning of the months of Rajab and Sha’ban too before Ramadan. People do go out for moon sighting, especially the fisherfolk in the coastal areas who are generally aware of the positions where moon could be sighted.
Several Qazis declared May 6 as Ramadan 1 after the crescent moon was reportedly sighted Sunday evening at Kappad in Kozhikkode and at Thiruvananthapuram. Major organisations and scholars including Panakkad Hyderali Shihab Thangal, Kanthapuram AP Aboobakker Musliyar, Palayam Imam VP Suhair Moulavi and Thodiyoor Muhammed Kunji Moulavi announced this on Sunday. The Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen had announced earlier itself that the Ramadan would begin on May 6.
However, a small fraction of believers began fasting on May 5 itself, as the new month began on Sunday according to the scientific lunar calendar followed by the Hijri Committee. The number of people following this pre-calculated scientific lunar calendar popularized by Ali Manikfan has been increasing, though at a small amount, over the past few years. Those who follow this calendar also use to organize their own Eid Gahs in places where they have a considerable following, as their Eid too usually fall earlier than the rest of the people. However, there are also some others who follow the scientific calendar for fasting, but celebrate the Eid along with the rest of the people in the mahall.
Ramadan falls almost fully in the hot summer season this year. It is the time of annual school vacations too. Having strong community organisations, religious sermons are a common thing in Kerala during the fasting month. Various Muslim organisations as well as local mahalls organize religious classes, exams and quizzes based on the Qur’an etc almost the whole of the month. Iftars are another specialty in individual houses as well as by companies, organisations and public figures alike. While the Ramadan market is full of various types of local and imported fruits and sweets among others, the Eid market mainly of clothes will get bustling in the second half of the month.
