RAMADAN, considered the most sacred month in the Islamic calendar, will commence on June 29.
Besides fasting from dawn till the sun sets, Muslims worldwide are encouraged to increase religious practices such as prayers and doing charitable deeds.
Recently, I received a handout from the Bandar Baru Uda (BBU) mosque management signed by chairman Suliman Sujak notifying activities specially lined up for the month-long festival.
According to Suliman, since its inception 16 years ago, daily events throughout the month include distribution of bubur lambuk (traditional rice porridge), mass buka puasa involving more than 300 worshippers at the mosque, Ramadan bazaar, daily terawih (extra prayers performed at night) and the tadarus al-Quran (TAQ or recital of the holy book in groups).
Four zakat fitrah (payment of tithes) counters will also be set up around the mosque and suraus around the neighbourhood to enable worshippers to perform their religious obligations.
As the holy month draws to a close, additional programmes are organised much to the approval of the congregators and worshippers.
Amongst the agenda are qiamulail and a gathering to mark the closing ceremony of the TAQ programme.
Qiamulail (late night prayers) is normally performed around 3am. Qiamulail commenced on the final 10 days of Ramadan.
The event attracted about 300 participants and the duration is around one hour.
Subsequently, the congregators will adjourn for sahur (pre-dawn meal) at the mosque's dining hall.
Highlights of the TAQ closing ceremony, which normally begins a week before Aidilfitri, are recitals of selected surahs (chapters), selawat (sayings of praise to the Holy Prophet Muhammad), presentations of gifts and goodies to TAQ participants, orphans, single mothers and disabled persons.
Patients from the BBU mosque Dialysis Treatment Centre, also known as peradia (dialysis treatment receiver) will also join other guests in the buka puasa feast to be held at the mosque dining hall.
The Ramadan bazaar, managed by the BBU mosque committee, and held along the parking lots at Jalan Padi Ria 13 is indeed the most frequent location around the neighbourhood during the celebration.
Besides patrons from other neighbourhoods, there will usually be non-Muslims spotted among the crowd as there will be more than 120 stalls set up.
Local delights such as nasi ambang, murtabak, mee goreng and rojak asma will be among the dishes available at the bazaar which will be set up as early as 3pm.
Also available will be an assortment of thirst quenchers including air kathira, syrups, fruit juices, just to name a few.
In some Ramadan bazaar locations, organisers will include cultural performances to attract a bigger crowd.
During the last Ramadan, those who went to Pekan Rabu were feted to an array of cultural performances such as samrah (traditional Middle Eastern ensemble), ghazal and nasyid.
Fasting Muslims are, however, advised not to spend lavishly on food so as to prevent wastage.
The temptation to eat a variety of dishes ceases when you drink cold soda syrup to quench your thirst.
And minutes before the call to prayer comes on to signal the start of buka puasa, a wide selection of dishes will be placed in a spread on the dining table, most of the delicacies presented by our kind neighbours.
I'm fortunate to have a few neighbours who still care to share their savoury dishes with us before the breaking of fast.
Sometimes my wife reciprocated by sending food like bamia (stew with lamb cubes) and chicken soto to their doors.
To the Muslim community around the vicinity, the BBU mosque committee led by Suliman needs your support to ensure events arranged for the forthcoming Ramadan will be positively received.
The committee, aka Sumbangan Ramadan Al-Mubarak, welcomes sponsors or donors to contribute cash or groceries to supplement their fund.
For inquiries, contact 07-238 8166.