Jordanians celebrate holy month of Ramadan with traditional rituals

Record ID: 99748

  • Title: Jordanians celebrate holy month of Ramadan with traditional rituals
  • Date: 12th June 2016
  • Summary: AMMAN, JORDAN (JUNE 11, 2016) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF MASHARATI WALKING IN STREETS OF AMMAN, DRUMMING AND SHOUTING TO WAKE PEOPLE UP FOR SUHOOR, OR PRE-DAWN MEAL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) A MASHARATI, NASSER IBRAHIM, SAYING: "Masharati is a joy as it happens once a year for the holy month of Ramadan, and all the children feel happy because of it." IBRAHIM AND ANOTHER MASHARATI WALKING AND DRUMMING IN STREET AMMAN, JORDAN (JUNE 11, 2016) (REUTERS) STREET TRAFFIC IN AMMAN PEOPLE MAKING QATAYEF, A SPECIAL SWEET DISH ASSOCIATED WITH RAMADAN VARIOUS OF MAN POURING BATTER ONTO HEATED PLATE AND ADDING INGREDIENTS PEOPLE QUEUING TO BUY QATAYEF (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CUSTOMER, MAHER SHOUMAN, SAYING: "Qatayef is one of the characteristics of the month of Ramadan. Qatayef gives you the flavour of Ramadan, on the table after the iftar meal, you have to have it during Ramadan.'' VARIOUS OF QATAYEF BEING MADE ON HEATED PLATE WALEED FARHAN, WHOSE FATHER WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO OPEN A QATAYEF STORE IN AMMAN, PREPARING MILK FOR QATAYEF (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) QATAYEF MAKER, WALEED FARHAN, SAYING: "We are always under pressure every Ramadan because we are the only ones who are specialized in Qatayef, making Qatayef anytime whether it's Ramadan or not. This is the first Qatayef store in Ramadan as my late father opened it in 64 (1964) and it is known in Jordan." VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF HABIBAH SWEET STORE VARIOUS OF SWEET DISHES ON DISPLAY INSIDE STORE VARIOUS OF QATAYEF ON DISPLAY MUSTAFA HABIBAH, OWNER OF HABIBAH SWEET STORE, WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OWNER OF HABIBAH SWEET STORE, MUSTAFA HABIBAH, SAYING: "Qatayef is definitely the most demanded item at the beginning of Ramadan. Then after the 10th of Ramadan, (the demand) is on all sweet dishes and it increases by 100 per cent compared to the normal days. After the 10th of Ramadan, the invitations start and everyone has an occasion comes to ask for a sweet. There is Kullaj, Baan Nareen, Osmaliah Oush al Bulbul and Kunafeh with nuts. The types of Ramadan (desserts) increases by 15 kinds." PEOPLE GATHERING OUTSIDE JUICE SHOP PEOPLE BUYING JUICES JUICE BEING POURED INTO CONTAINER VARIOUS OF PEOPLE BUYING JUICES AMMAN, JORDAN (JUNE 11, 2016) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF ILLUMINATED DECORATIONS IN STREETS OF DOWNTOWN AMMAN
  • Embargoed: 27th June 2016 10:52
  • Keywords: Ramadan Amman religious holiday tradition fasting celebration
  • Location: AMMAN, JORDAN
  • City: AMMAN, JORDAN
  • Country: Jordan
  • Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014LXXQAD
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:In the darkness of the night, a small group of people are drumming and shouting as they march down the streets of Amman.
    These are the masharati, whose role is to wake people up for Suhoor, or the pre-dawn meal, during the holy month of Ramadan.
    "Masharati is a joy as it happens once a year for the holy month of Ramadan, and all the children feel happy because of it," says Nasser Ibrahim, a masharati.
    The Muslim holy month that began this year on June 6 revolves around daily fasts from sunrise to sunset, and then favourite meals with family and friends during the night hours.
    One of the main staples on a Jordanian iftar table, is Qatayef a dumpling-like dessert filled with cream or nuts.
    "Qatayef is one of the characteristics of the month of Ramadan. Qatayef gives you the flavour of Ramadan, on the table after the iftar meal, you have to have it during Ramadan,'' said Maher Shouman, a customer queuing at one of Amman's oldest Qatayef shop.
    Stores and bakeries that sell Qatayef say they are seeing a high demand for the dessert during the Muslim holy month.
    "We are always under pressure every Ramadan because we are the only ones who are specialized in Qatayef, making Qatayef anytime whether it's Ramadan or not,'' said Qatayef maker, Waleed Farhan.
    "Qatayef is definitely the most demanded item at the beginning of Ramadan. Then after the 10th of Ramadan, (the demand) is on all sweet dishes and it increases by 100 per cent compared to the normal days. After the 10th of Ramadan, the invitations started and everyone has an occasion comes to ask for a sweet. There is Kullaj, Baan Nareen, Osmaliah Oush al Bulbul and Kunafeh with nut. The types of Ramadan (desserts) increases by 15 kinds," said Mustafa Habibah, owner of Habibah sweet shop.
    Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is marked by the abstinence from food, drink and sex during daylight hours.
    The month ends with the celebration of Eid-al Fitr.
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