Along with other parts of the country and the world, the Muslim community in the state of Assam too brought in the holy month of Ramzaan from Thursday.
Regarded as the most sacred month of the Islamic calendar, the month of Ramzaan, also known as Ramadan in Arabic, was seen ushering in a great sense of joy for the observants in various parts of Udalguri like Kalaigaon, Panery, Lalpool, Tangla, Garuajhar,and Dimakuchi.
As the religion follows a lunar calendar, the believers didn’t spot the crescent moon.
However after the Hilal Committee confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon, thus affirming the commencement of Ramzaan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
With the announcement coming in the evening of Wednesday, the people were seen rushing to their respective neighbourhood mosques to take part in taraweeh – a special evening namaaz reserved for the month.
People across all ages were seen holding fasts from dawn to dusk as the month began – a distinguishing and most essential feature of Ramzaan.
The market area, especially the pockets dealing with vegetables, fruits and meat, stood bustling, with people making arrangements for iftaar, which is a traditional way of breaking the day-long fast.
Believed to be the month in which the holy book of Quran was revealed, keeping fasts in Ramzaan is considered to be one of the five pillars of Islam.
After 30 days of Ramzaan, commences the holy Eid-ul-fitr for the Muslim faithful.