Makkans Miss Ramadan Boom

JEDDAH | The holy city of Makkah is known to have special traditions during Ramadan in terms of decorations and dishes, but one that is sorely missed is the Ramadan cannon. Makkans used to start and end their fast with the sound of the Ramadan cannon.

There was a man known as Musaharati who used to go about the neighborhoods on foot urging people to wake up for suhour, chanting, “Hey, you sleepy one, wake up to eat and pray to God the Almighty,” said Tariq Makki, a historian. He said Makkah’s neighborhoods are a hive of activity during Ramadan, especially with women cooking meals and other items that they would share with neighbors.

“The main features of the Ramadan table were certain types of dishes and drinks, including subia, soup, sambusas, thin bread, rice, vegetables, pudding and custard.”

Makki said he also remembers how residents of his neighborhood would gather at the chief’s house after taraweeh.

“The chief is the oldest person in the neighborhood and is tasked with distributing alms to the poor,” he said.

Another feature of old Makkah neighborhoods was the use of decorations, stalls selling liver and boiled chickpeas and covered with green and white colored fabric, and the lights set up along the sides of roads.

Sumber | Arabnews