Tuesday, Sep 11, 2007
Gulf News
Dubai: Ramadan for Emirati families is a month of worship, strengthening family ties and a chance to reconnect amid life's busy schedule.
Gulf News spoke to a number of Emirati families on their preparations for Ramadan and special rituals they do only in Ramadan.
Fahad Al Rahma, a government employee from Dubai and a father of five boys, said Ramadan for his family and himself is a month of worship and a month of reconnecting with his parents more often.
"The special thing I do before the start of Ramadan is that I prepare a schedule of family visits. For example, one day I will be in my parents' house, the other day in my brother's house and another day in my sister's house.
"This way, I ensure I get in touch with everyone of my family members which I do not get time to do on regular days because of busy schedules," he told Gulf News.
Al Rahma said he does not buy more grocery than he usually buys in other months but buys food items that are only famous in Ramadan.
"The most famous food items that we only eat in Ramadan include, luqaimat (dumplings), harees and khameer bread," he said.
Al Rahma said family gathering around food during iftar is a special moment because it is not only about having a meal, but communicating with all family members who leave every work to break iftar with the family which does not happen on usual days.
"The working hours are also less which means we come back to our homes early and spend the day praying, reading Quran and spending time with our kids," he said.
Al Rahma said after breaking the fast, he goes to Taraweeh prayers with his children and after coming back, he goes to religious lectures which are popular in Ramadan.
Different atmosphere
"If there was no religious lecture, I go to play football because special tournaments happen in the neighbourhood during Ramadan," he said.
Younis Mohammad, a government employee and father of four children, said the nature of food and timings change which creates a totally different atmosphere in the house.
"Even while shopping, we consider the kinds of food we buy because in Ramadan foods like harees, Makboos (casserole of meat, usually lamb, or fish with rice) and sweets like caramel, jelly and luqaimat dumplings are most famous," he said.
Mohammad said after breaking the fast, he either participates in a football game, or goes out with friends to Ramadan tents where they discuss issues related to family and religion.
Hamda Mohammad, a housewife and mother of one child, said one of the important things her family does in Ramadan is buying new kitchen items such as, plates, pots and other items because they are used in distributing food for neighbours.
"As women, we also buy new jalabiyas (traditional dress) which we wear at home and when we go to prayers in the mosque. One of the nice things is that all women of the house gather in the kitchen to apply the last touches on dishes before serving them," she said.
Mona Saleh, a housewife and mother of three children, said cleaning the house, especially the kitchen is one of the most important preparations for Ramadan.
"We use the usual ovens to cook daily food items, but we have a special oven that we only use in Ramadan to cook big dishes like harees or biryani which we cook in large quantities to also distribute to our neighbours," she said.
Mona said family gatherings on iftar is a special characteristic of Ramadan.
"On days, we break fast at my mother's house and on other days at my in-laws house which strengthens those family bonds," she said.
Gulf News 2007. All rights reserved.
