- Title: MADAGASCAR: Muslims in Madagascar mark end of Ramadan with prayers and banquet.
- Date: 28th July 2014
- Summary: ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN COURTYARD COOKING SHEEP CHICKEN VARIOUS OF WOMEN STIRRING TRADITIONAL PORRIDGE KNOWN AS GODROGODRO IN A BIG POT VARIOUS OF SACS OF FOOD STUFFS IN STORAGE ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Malagasy) MOUANA ADIJA, ANTANANARIVO RESIDENT SAYING: "We are preparing Godrogodro for Eid, which we will either eat on Monday or Tuesday, because it takes four days to cook." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE MAKING GODROGODRO (SOUNDBITE) (Malagasy) MAO ABDOU, ANTANANARIVO RESIDENT SAYING: "A lot was consumed and spent over 30 days, without mentioning non-alcoholic drinks and all types of pastries, so we estimate that we spent around 65, 000 U.S. Dollars during the month of Ramadan." WOMEN COOKING IN KITCHEN WOMEN CHOPPING ONIONS AND TOMATOES WOMAN SERVING DOUGHNUTS (SOUNDBITE) (Malagasy) HORTHENSE, ANTANANARIVO RESIDENT SAYING: "Usually, Muslim women have to wear a veil and I don't wear a veil because I am Catholic and I came here in solidarity to help them. It's all about faith, there is no discrimination, we are a community, we all help each other and we eat together." VARIOUS OF DOUGHNUTS ON TRAYS STREET SCENES VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ENTERING MOSQUE SHOES AT ENTRANCE OF MOSQUE VARIOUS OF MUSLIM MEN PRAYING VARIOUS OF MUSLIM WOMEN PRAYING
- Embargoed: 12th August 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Madagascar
- Country: Madagascar
- Topics: Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA4XZY6D9YX7FHYP6GKJGUH097Q
- Story Text: The Muslim community in Madagascar celebrate Eid, with prayers and feasting in specially prepared traditional food.
The neighbourhood of '67 hectares' in Madagascar's capital Antananarivo is buzzing with activity as women are busy working in the kitchens preparing this evening meal celebrating the end of Ramadan.
The celebration of Eid al-Fitr -- or just Eid, is marked by Muslims all over the world at the end of an entire month of fasting from dawn till dusk, praying and meditating on the teachings of the Quran.
The month is intended to instill discipline, humility, peace and spirituality.
On the first day of Eid, Muslims all over the world attend morning prayers at mosques and later gather with their families for a holiday feast and to exchange gifts.
This year, Muslims will mark Eid on Monday (July 28th) and Tuesday (July 29th).
For Malagasy Muslims no meal is complete without Godrogodro, a traditional paste made out of wheat and semolina, mixed with sugar, and is cooked over four days.
On this particular day, there are 20 pots of Godrogodro cooking, in preparation for this evening's fast. 1,200 have been invited for the feast.
"We are preparing Godrogodro for Eid, which we will either eat on Monday or Tuesday, because it takes four days to cook," said one of the women preparing this evening's feast's Mouna Adija.
Madagascar is still trying to rebuild its battered economy, since a coup on the Indian Ocean Island in 2009.
The political troubles and the high prices of goods and other basic commodities, have not dampened the festivities this year.
Food prices always go up across Muslim countries during Ramadan when people like to enjoy long evening meals, or Iftars.
For the Muslim community in '67 hectares', a benefactor has donated money throughout the fasting month of Ramadan, to enable those who cannot afford meals to break their fast to still observe Ramadan.
"A lot was consumed and spent over 30 days, without mentioning non-alcoholic drinks and all types of pastries, so we estimate that we spent around 65,000 U.S. Dollars during the month of Ramadan," said the head of the Madagascar's Muslim association, Mao Abdou.
Muslims makeup about seven percent of Madagascar's population, and are concentrated in the North-West of the country, while 41 percent of Malagasies consider themselves Christians.
In the spirit of sharing and giving during celebrating Eid, even non-Muslims are invited to participate in the banquet.
"Usually, Muslim women have to wear a veil, and I don't wear a veil because I am a Catholic and I came here to help them. It's all about faith, there is no discrimination, we are a community, we all help each other and we eat together," said one Antananarivo resident, Horthense.
Eid or the festival of sacrifice, commemorates Abraham's willingness to obey God's command to sacrifice his son Ismail. Muslim families traditionally mark the occasion by slaughtering a sheep or cow, a portion of which is distributed to the poor. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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