Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Muhammad Jaffer cycles through the streets of Santoshnagar beating his drum announcing the beginning of Ramzan fast

He is a town crier with a difference. Under the halogen streetlight glow at 3.30 a.m., Muhammad Jaffer’s voice booms over the hailer in Santoshnagar, Mehdipatnam followed by banging of drum announcing the beginning of Ramzan fast for the day. The whirring fan, the noisy AC and closed doors are no impediment, as folks scramble to prepare lunch before the 16-hour fast. Some have the food ready and just have to brush and eat sehri.

“This is a tradition from the beginning of Islam. Now people have alarm clocks, but I like to hear his sing-song voice asking people to wake up for food and prayer,” says Aziz Ahmed, a businessman. “Earlier, there were sehri-walahs doing this, but now the numbers have declined,” says Mr. Aziz, recalling the time when the family used to live in Hussainialam in the old city, 40 years ago.

It is difficult to catch Mr. Jaffer in the morning as he briskly cycles through the streets of Santoshnagar to Rethibowli in Mehdipatnam between 2 a.m. and 3.30 a.m. banging the drum mounted on the handlebar of the cycle and singing the words that are difficult to grasp. “I have been doing this for the past 31 years. I began in 1983 or 1984 when I was 14 and my father Muhammad Qureshi passed away. I am continuing his legacy. Then I used a tin drum which I used to bang, shout and walk through these same streets,” says Mr. Jaffer, on a day when he has come to collect money from grateful people whom he has rendered this service to.

“Earlier, people used to give foodgrains. Now they give clothes, grains as well as money,” informs Mr. Aziz.

“There was a time when we used to meet at 1 a.m. to drink tea and have pan before heading out to make these calls. We were more than a few dozen. But now, there are about 10 in this part of the city and I think the whole of Hyderabad may have about 50,” he guesses.

“No. My children will not follow this profession. They are all young and they want to study and work,” says Mr. Jaffer, who supplies lime to restaurants and function halls during the rest of the year.

In these days of niche apps that show the direction of qibla, exact time of prayer, and cell phone alarms, Muhammad Jaffer is a happy anachronism which Hyderabad can be proud of.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Serish Nanisetti / Hyderabad – July 06th, 2016

Visakhapatnam, ANDHRA PRADESH :

Visakhapatnam:

A seat of secularism, Ishaq Madina Dargah is known to celebrate Ramzan and Ram Navami in the same premises.

Also referred to as the Sheikh Ali Ishaq Madina Rehmatullah Dargah, this place of worship is named after a Muslim sufi saint who arrived in Visakhapatnam from Madina in Arabia along with his followers. Though the exact date of the dargah is not known, it gained prominence during the Mughul rule and was granted the Inam (land) of Yerrada and Devada villages and other properties in Vizag in 1706. Locals, however, claim that the Dargah is much older and has been observing the holy month of Ramzan for more than four centuries.

According to Mohiddin Basha, a dargah trustee, “Ramzan has been observed for at least four hundred years now. Recently, archaeological experts declared that the dargah could actually date back further to another two centuries at least”

“Hindus and Muslims alike come to pay their respects to the sufi saint Sheikh Ali Rehmatullah. In fact, the first Sepoy Mutiny to take place in India in 1780s was launched after the sepoys took their blessings from the dargah before going to battle against the British,” Basha said. During Ramzan, the dargah keeps the kitchen open to people from all faiths.

Hindu festivals such as Sri Ram Navami and Janmashtami are also celebrated at the dargah with great pomp. K Ramana Murthy, a resident of Sivalayam Stree, said, “The dargah symbolises the unity in the concept of God and because of it’s presence, there has never been a case of Hindu-Muslim rivalry in this city. We live as brothers and respect each others traditions.”

History buff BS Mahesh said, “The reason why Hindus and Muslims had no conflict of interests in Visakhapatnam is partly because most of the Muslims here were traders and sea farers, while the Hindus were ship builders and metal smiths. The give and take relationship between the two communities was harmosnised by the presence of the dargah. Many trustees of the dargah and some of the famous 19th century Muslim scholars from Vizag such as Chisti Saheb were scholars in Sanskrit and Telugu as well.”

In a bid to bring the dargah to the notice of the people, the trustees intend to request the state government to release some of its properties that were forcible occupied and be recognised as one of the oldest places in AP where Ramzan has been celebrated by both Muslims and Hindus.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / July 06th, 2016

Visakhapatnam, ANDHRA PRADESH :

Visakhapatnam:

While the Muslim community across the country will celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Thursday, the Dawoodi Bohra community residing in upscale Mubarak Colony of Port City observed the festival on Tuesday after 30 days of fasting by offering prayers and namaaz at the Mohammadi Masjid in Yendada.

Around 650 people took part in a community breakfast after the prayers. A unique feature of their meal is everyone, irrespective of social status, eats from huge thalis as it fosters the spirit of harmony and promotes economic justice. Another reason for such a practice is to avoid wastage of food.

“Today’s Eid-special breakfast consisted of sheer khorma (a sweet dish made of dry fruits, milk and sewaiyya), bread, kheema, vadas and chutney. Eight people at a time can sit together to eat from a thali. For lunch and dinner too, the same system would be followed. Special items like biryani and karri chawal was prepared in our community kitchen today,” said Adnan Sabuwala, a member of the Dawoodi Bohra community.

A good initiative of the community is preventing wastage of food. “Whatever food remains after consumption by our members would be distributed among the poor villagers in the surrounding areas. If there’s some food or vegetables that’s not in a state good enough for consumption by people, we go to some cattle or animal shed and with permission of the owners, offer them to the animals,” said Mulla Abhizer Madraswala, secretary of Anjuman-e-badri, a committee organisation that looks into the accounts and logistics.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / July 06th, 2016