Ramadan Celebrations 3

Ramadan in Thailand
Muslims in Thailand form one-third of the Thai people. Because of the huge manifestations of celebrating the month of Ramadan, aThai citizen feels as if the number of Muslims doubles everyday.
During Ramadan, a new mosque is inaugurated mostly in every city and in every village. All the year round, Muslims of each city collect money for establishing the new mosque which is usually opened in the month of Ramadan. People here are keen on working by themselves in building these mosques. Memorizers of the Ever-Glorious Qur'an are happily carried on shoulders to be examples for the rest of Muslims and to encourage the youngsters to memorize the Glorious Qur'an as well.
In the first day of Ramadan, each Thai Muslim family even the poor families are keen on slaughtering in commemoration with the coming of this blessed month. Obviously, slaughtering in the first day of fasting is a Thai habit that has been witnessed and still a long time ago.
Among the beautiful manifestations of this month is that people, here, used to have the meal of breaking the fast in groups; the matter which is considered to be a kind of good treatment and sincere love. The Thai Muslims incline towards having large amounts of fruits during this month. Interestingly enough, spending the month of Ramadan in their country is normally among the habits of the Thai Muslims. Thus, most travelers, overseas workers and even students who study abroad usually come back to spend the month of Ramadan with their families.

Ramadan in Austria
There is about 150,000 Muslims of different nationalities in Austria; among them are Arab, Turkish and others. Exactly the case in Muslim countries, Muslims celebrate Ramadan by observing Islamic rites, like performing Taraweeh Prayer at about fifty mosques in Vienna and other Austrian cities. Muslims there also go to the mosques regularly to listen to religious lectures on Islamic jurisprudence, exegesis of the Qur'an and other sciences.
However, mosques differ in their way of celebrating Ramadan. As regard the Islamic Center in Vienna, established and funded by Muslim countries, services go on in full swing, as sermons are delivered and lectures given by a group of reverent Muslim scholars from Al-Azhar and other places, Taraweeh Prayers are performed regularly. Moreover, the center provides a breakfast for Muslims throughout the month.
There are also other Islamic centers and mosques financed by the Turkish community in Austria. Such centers provide Muslim communities in Austria with Islamic books, and they also provide meats and chicken slaughtered on the Islamic way.
The Egyptian club in Austria also plays a great role in gathering the Austrian-based Egyptians together during Ramadam on breakfast banquets. When Ramadan ends, all Muslim communities gather in the Islamic center to celebrate `Eid after performing `Eid Prayer. Such celebration is a special occasions for Muslims there to get together in the atmosphere of love and brotherliness.

Ramadan in Sweden
Islam has spread all over the world, so that it became the second religion in Sweden and other countries in the Northern Pole.
As for the problem that face Muslims here, it is the issue of sighting the new moon of Ramadan; this causes a lot of problem and stirs arguments due to the lack of a center body on which all Muslims will rely for this important issue. Yes, there is an Islamic center here, but its services cannot cover all Muslims dispersed in different places, besides, the Swedish media renders no assistance. However, people mostly follow the crescent sighting in Makkah, to know the beginning of Ramadan and the day of `Eid.
There is a big difference between the way of celebrating Ramadan in all Scandinavian countries and in other European countries, because the number of Muslim minority in the former is somehow lower than the number of Muslims in the latter. Yet, despite the few number of Muslims here in Sweden, Ramadan forms a very special spiritual occasion, which all Muslims nail-bitingly wait for from year to year. No sooner had the Muslim scholars sighted the crescent of Ramadan than people begin to congratulate one another and set forth to perform Taraweeh Prayer at the nearest mosque, or say, some places hired by Muslims for prayer, for there are no mosques. In these places, Muslims hold sessions in which they remember Allah throughout Ramadan.

Ramadan in India
Indian people prepare themselves for Ramadan on the last day of Sha`aban, when the fatwa committee there go for sighting the crescent of Ramadn after Sunset Prayer. On announcing the following day to be the first day of Ramadan, people begin to phone their relatives and friends, congratulating one another for the blessed month. Then they go for Taraweeh Prayer, and some people show more keenness on Taraweeh Prayer than on the prescribed Prayers and observe it steadfastly, especially at the beginning of the month and also when the month ends.
The number of people who perform Taraweeh Prayer redoubles in the 27th night of Ramadan, being considered the Night of Power. Also their number increase in the night when the Imam is about to complete the Qur'an. One of the habits of the Indians in Ramadan is also retreating in mosques for worship during the last ten days of Ramadan.
There are some special dishes prepared in Ramadan in India, such as "Ghangui" a kind of soup, made of floor, rice and slices of meat. It's very useful in breaking one's fasting with as it quenches thirst and produces energy. This soup is served in every mosque. Also there is "Harir" a kind of drink to be taken at Iftar. The Indians also like to eat different fruits in Ramadan.
At the end of Ramadan, people begin to prepare themselves for the `Eid El-Fitr; it is actually the greatest feast for Muslims in the India. Early in the morning of `Eid, men take shower and wear white clothes, then they go for `Eid Prayer after they eat some sweets. At home, women go on preparing special sweets for the feast, which they call `Eid Kah. Then they present it to their husbands after returning from the mosque. All people wear colorful and elegant dresses and receive visitors. They also exchange `Eid cards.

Ramadan in Pakistan
With the coming of Ramadan, Pakistani citizens make `Umrah their first concern. Though straitened may be their circumstances, they never lose such a chance.
In Pakistan, Friday markets are everywhere to provide people with their basic needs at low prices. Pakistani women begin preparing Iftar at a very early time of the day in addition to some light drinks and meals. After Taraweeh, supper is offered which is mostly a good spicy meal.
During the last ten days, the case is different as men gather together to have Suhoor in nearby mosques. Before Suhoor time, they begin reciting and studying the Qur'an.
Days before `Eid Al-Fitr (Lesser Bairam) candy is distributed and markets are open around the hour so that people can get their needs for `Eid.
Before `Eid Prayer begins, Pakistani people wear new clothes and head to the public playground to perform `Eid Prayer. Kissing one another and exchanging congratulations the Pakistanis show their joy with the coming of the Lesser Bairam, `Eid Mubarak.