Covid-19 fails to dampen spirit, prayers and charity to mark Ramzan in Tricity

CHANDIGARH: Even though Covid-19 has kept people confined to their homes, it has failed to dampen the spirit of Muslim residents of the Tricity, who are all set to start observing Roza (fasting) from Saturday, when the holy month of Ramzan begins. They have vowed to celebrate the month by helping those in need.
Unlike other communities, which have been going online to join prayer ceremonies during the lockdown period, members of the community said they would not follow the suit, though they would also not be going to mosques for offering namaz to prevent spread of Covid-19 pandemic.Religious leaders of the community have advised them to say their prayers from home only.
Reading out of special “farz ramzan” is an important part of the prayers during the holy month, but since that can be done only in the mosques, they will miss it the most. The residents have, however, requested various mosques to make it heard through loud speakers, said Shehzad Alam, a city resident.
“We are offering prayers from home. There is no other option. We will be praying for things to become normal soon,” said another resident Kausar Khan, adding that amid the Covid-19 pandemic, “we are missing the festive buzz in the markets”.
Maulivis of various Tricity mosques have also asked the community members to pray for the world. Maulana Imran said, “People should pray for everyone’s well-being and do charity, as this month is all about that only.”
The month of Ramzan will see people fasting all through the day. They will have “sehri” (morning meal) and then “iftar” (evening meal), wherein a variety of dishes are prepared. The holy month will end on May 23 or 24, depending on the sighting of moon.