The holy month of Ramadan commenced on Friday with devout Muslims beginning their month-long day-fasting ritual with "sahr" or pre-dawn meals after sirens blared from mosques as a wake-up call and announced the beginning of the fast at 4:10 am.
Pious Muslims in fact heralded the holy month by offering "namaz-e-taraweeh" or special prayers at mosques on Thursday night itself.
During the holy month, from dawn to dusk everyday, the devout abstain from consuming food or water, and observe celibacy.
The fast is broken with "iftar", and this year the time fixed is 6:58 pm.
The Ramadan month is being observed in both the Telugu states (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) with gaiety with mosques being decorated and lit with colorful lighting.
The Telangana government has sanctioned Rs. 5 crores for renovation and the provision of the required facilities at all the mosques. The AP government too has sanctioned Rs. 2.5 crores for the same measures to be taken in the mosques of AP.
Like in the past, the governments in both the states this year too made special arrangements to ensure uninterrupted power, water and milk supplies besides other civic amenities. Muslims working in government offices were also permitted to leave an hour early for their evening prayers and taking part in "iftar" to break the day-long fast.
During the holy month the Old City of Hyderabad bustles with activity with hotels and other eateries selling the renown "haleem" and other delicacies specially made and available only during this period. This is also a period of shopping for Muslim families.
The Chief Ministers of AP and Telangana, N Chandrababu Naidu and K Chandrashekar Rao respectively, greeted Muslims on the commencement of the holy period of Ramadan, observing that fasting during the month and the reciting of the Quran at the various special prayer meetings would not only help purify the soul but also offer immense health benefits, and wishing prosperity and development of the community. (NSS)