Ramadan in Kyrgyzstan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is considered a holy months, although the name itself probably comes from an earlier time. As the Islamic calendar is a lunar one, then the date of Ramadan according to the Gregorian Calendar changes each year.
It is the month in which Muslims believe the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the prophet Mohammed – and is marked by Muslims all over the world by fasting, (or Orozo in Kyrgyz), during the hours of daylight. Indeed, fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam.
It is thought that fasting during this month will “burn away sins”.
The majority of the Kyrgyz are Muslims, and most of them try to mark Ramadan in some way. For many this will simply be by marking the festival Orozo Ait, which is a public holiday, perhaps attending prayers at the Mosque or in Bishkek’s main Ala Too Square. Others decide to keep Orozo, that is they fast for the month.
The evening of the night before the first day of Ramadan, the family prepares by making bread and preparing plov.
There is a tradition that to mark any special occasion, (good or bad), then nine loaves of bread are made which are eaten after the family have prayed and read the Koran. Usually, it is not loaves of ordinary bread baked in an oven, but deep fried dough similar to boorsok.
Plov is a dish made from rice and lamb mixed with onion and diced carrot, and often with raisins … it is said that rice and raisins are God’s food.
The next morning the Holy Month of Ramadan starts – and those keeping the fast are not supposed to eat or drink during the daylight hours. Daylight hours are defined as when it is possible to see the difference between a black thread and a white thread.
Before sunrise the family wake and get up and share their last meal until after sunset. They read from the Koran, pray and drink some water which they have prayed over. For the rest of the day they do not eat or drink anything, not even water, and they are not even supposed to swallow spittle or chew gum. As well as foregoing food, they also avoid all the other of the “devil’s temptations”, (such as stealing, cheating, impure thoughts, idle chat or gossip, games – azaret). Instead, during the daytime they try to concentrate on being good and obeying the calls to prayer.
After sunset, the family gather, read again from the Koran, pray and drink some of the blessed water and then can eat a meal as normal.
Sunrise and sunset, marking the start and end of the day, can vary over the month and years. For example, in 2009 the first day of Ramadan began at about 4:00am, and every subsequent day, a minute or later.
The end of the month, 30 days later, is celebrated by the festival Orozo Ait – which marks the “Breaking of the Fast”.
Also, some people participate in the Hajj during Ramadan – a Pilgrimage to Mecca which is one of the five pillars of Islam, technically a requirement placed on all Muslims.
In Kyrgyzstan:
Although Kyrgyzstan is a secular country, most of the Kyrgyz are nominally Muslim. Observance of the festival will very widely from region to region, family to family and even person to person, but most Muslims will conform to some extent with the traditions and requirements of fasting. If you are in Kyrgyzstan during Ramadan you should be sensitive to the fast:
- If possible, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public – many people will understand that you aren’t under the same obligation to fast but will appreciate your awareness. For example: remember that in some Muslim countries
- it’s actually illegal to eat and drink in daylight during Ramadan.
- Some restaurants will close or operate amended opening hours during Ramadan.
- Restaurants that cater to tourists should open as usual but hotels will sometimes use screens to keep western diners sectioned off from Islamic guests.
- Business hours may be adjusted and the working day may be shorter.
Those that do keep Orozo can’t eat, drink, smoke or even chew gum during daylight hours. Muslims use this time of abstention for prayer, contemplation and charitable work.
Orozo Ait, marking the end of Ramadan is a public holiday and there will be mass prayers in mosques and the central squares in the main cities.
Bishkek