September 13th marked the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan in Afghanistan. Ramadan is an Islamic religious observance which begins with the appearance of the new moon during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and ends once the full moon returns to the skies. During this time all Afgans begin a fasting ritual which forbids any eating and drinking during daylight hours. To break the fast during Ramadan is considered a sin. The exact beginning and ending of Ramadan is not confirmed until a day or so before it occurs. Likewise, the exact time which marks the beginning and end of the fasting also changes from day to day to reflect the shifting amount of daylight hours. It is a highly religious period driven by the rotation of the moon and the earth.
Eid is a muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. This year it is anticipated to fall on this coming Friday or Saturday. Eid celebrations are very similar to the Christmas celebrations: there is a gift exchange, family feasts, singing, dancing and the traditional religious ceremonies. This week is quite busy in downtown Kabul. People are everywhere shopping for their loved ones, looking for the ingredients that will enhance their local dishes and preparing for the Eid celebrations.
One cannot help but be swept up by the excitement of people scurrying across local shops and bazaars with large plastic bags, bicycles loaded with new clothes, wooden carts filled with local vegetables or with overflowing wheelbarrows carrying a child or two– only if there is space. Even our guesthouse cook, Shafi has been singing, laughing and sharing increasingly more good humoured conversations with local staff, despite his weakened demeanor (…and brought me while I was writing this blog three cornfritters covered with ketchup so that I could do a taste test on his behalf.)
عید شما مبارک:
ایام عید را برای تمام مردم افغانستان از صمیم قلب تبریک میګویم
حلال عید را در کنج ابروی تو میبینم - مبارک باد برتو عید و برمن دیدن رویت
[Eid Mubarak! [Blessed Eid!] to all of Afghanistan! Traditional Afghan Poem: I can see the moon on your eyebrow, The EID should be congratulating for you and by seeing your face it is a form of congratulations of EID directed to me. As translated by Azim Hakimzada]
4th Photo: Urban Afghan on bicycle
3rd Photo: carpets laid on bridge and on banks of Kabul River Oct. 7.07
2nd Photo: Local lady in midday rush Oct. 7.07
1st Photo: Oct. 7.07 Bazaar in downtown Kabul Oct. 7.07
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