How I was afraid of Ramadan the year we moved to Bahrain! “All foreigners are fleeing during Ramadan! Everywhere is closed! It is forbidden to eat, if they see it, you will be thrown in jail!”… Disaster scenarios flying in the air… I was not even approaching the window with my coffee in my hand until I saw our neighbor dancing in a bikini on the balcony.. With the third month of Ramadan we spent in different parts of the country, I learned that what is said about Ramadan in Bahrain both has a grain of truth and it does not.. Yes, a lot is changing in everyday life, prohibitions appear and yes, there are jail sentences. But in fact, everything depends on what, where and how we do it out of respect.
How is Ramadan in Bahrain, which is neither comfortable like Dubai nor strict like Saudi Arabia; What is different from Turkey; What changes in Ramadan? I will try to explain based on what we have seen.. Of course, this year, there is a different and calmer environment than usual due to the measures taken against the corona virus, but the traditions and prohibitions remain.. Maybe this article will be needed next year
When Does Ramadan Start in Bahrain?
– It is not clear when Ramadan will start here.
– What It’s not clear to mean?!
– It’s not obvious. Last night, they look at the moon and decide.
– ???
I couldn’t count how many people this dialogue has been between us so far.. One of the most important differences between Turkey and Bahrain is the Ramadan calendar.. While Turkey clearly announces dates in advance based on astronomical data, Bahrain (and even many Middle Eastern countries) still prefers the old fashioned way.. For the start of Ramadan, the authorized committee should see the Moon’s transition to the Crescent phase with the naked eye.. If it is seen, it is announced that Ramadan has started that evening; Whatsapp messages are sent to us too If it is not seen, it is very likely to stay the next day.
They check and announce the end of Ramadan in the same way, on the last night.. In other words, the starting days of religious holidays may be different from those in Turkey.. In Bahrain, where we will spend the Ramadan Feast for the first time, it is not yet clear which day it will be. Almost no effect. Some companies have already announced holidays at the beginning of the year.. Even if it is not, it is more or less certain on which days it will be a holiday; there may be deviation of only 1 or 2 days. After all, if you have a job where you can take leave during the holiday, you can get permission to cover those dates in advance.
How is Ramadan in Bahrain? What’s Different Here?
Although there are differences in practice according to the sects, in general sahur, iftar and tarawih are used here as we know them and even with the names we know.. The last meal is eaten at sahur, the fast begins with the sunrise and the fast is opened with the iftar at sunset.
There are no Ramadan drummers as common as we are, but in order to keep the traditions alive, they call them “Mushaer” in some local neighborhoods. drummers were walking around, raising people to the sahur.. The cannon fire that announces iftar has been held since 1928. We guess that the call to prayer we hear 15-20 minutes after the call to prayer, which is read together with the cannon shot, comes from Shiite mosques because some Shiites break their fast not when the sun goes down, but when that last light disappears and the first star is seen in the sky.
Veee is one of my favorites… We don’t see much in the Seef region, but we had a chance to catch it lively because the number of Arabs living in the Janabiyah region, where we first settled, was very busy: some Arabs decorate their houses during Ramadan.. Just like New Year’s time, LED lights, “Ramadan Kareem” writings are hung in the garden, balcony, door.. Frankly, I like these customs that give a festive atmosphere..
Gergaoon
Unlike us, Gergaoon is celebrated in the middle of Ramadan, that is, on the 14th or 15th.. In the evening of this day, the children are dressed in style, colorfully.. I don’t know what kind of clothes you had in your eyes, but I compared the girls’ dresses to our bindals.. In boys, on the other hand, metal embroidered vests are usually seen on thawb.
After the fast-breaking performance, the children gather together and collect candy from door to door to the accompaniment of the Gergaoon song (I said “Song” but I hope it doesn’t have another name.). We can say that the event, which is held on the feast day, is held in Bahrain during the month of Ramadan.
The number of people who continue to make Gergaoon according to the old traditions has decreased considerably, but every year Gergoon events are held in shopping malls or hotels.. A Ramadan event to be seen in Bahrain with drummers, dancers, animators, shops that distribute lots of candy.
Iftar and Ghabga
Every year iftar tents
in Bahrain
strong> is being built, but not in squares (there is no place like a square anyway), in the gardens of big hotels.. It is necessary to pay a minimum of 25-30 dinars ($66 – $80) per person to attend the iftar and/or ghabga program in these extremely luxurious and ostentatious Ramadan tents where open buffet meals and entertainment are offered; There is a way to 50 dinars.
What is ghabga that is as important as iftar in Ramadan? With its rough definition, a meal that is eaten during the period from iftar to sahur, including entertainment; kind of Ramadan party. Ghabga is an old tradition in Bahrain. It is not just an event held within the hotels; .much more modest ghabga organizations also exist. In fact, the thing is: In this region, life stops during the day during Ramadan, it gets active again after iftar, and food, hookah, conversation and conversation continue until sahur.. Even if they don’t participate in the ghabga program, Arabs continue to eat after iftar.
You’re sitting until sahur but don’t you have work tomorrow?
It’s like nothing
<
Business Life and Social Life in Ramadan in Bahrain
When Ramadan in Bahrain starts, the working hours of many companies change, but we cannot talk about a general rule.
<
Working hours are reduced to 6 hours in government institutions and some private sector companies. The working hours of the shops are completely independent; There are some that stay closed all day and open after iftar, some that stay open for 4-5 hours during the day, and those that do not make any changes… But it should be assumed that every place will be closed during the day, especially in bazaars like Manama Souq.
During Ramadan, all restaurants and cafes are closed during the day.. If you go to the food floor of a shopping mall at noon, the only thing you will see is the shutters.. “Life turns upside down.” I said; The restaurants, which open at 16.00 with outside service, start to fill up with iftar.. The time zone where you will have difficulty finding a place for cafes is 11:00-12.00 at night.. Of course, the closing hours of shopping malls change accordingly.
It should not be perceived as if there is an environment where people who do not fast are left without food.. While the restaurants and cafes of 4 and 5 star hotels continue to serve, some restaurants only have open kitchens and work for outside service.. Food departments in big markets are active; You can shop for food during the day.. Every year, in forums or Facebook groups, there are some brave people who share the list of restaurants and cafes that are open during the day during Ramadan.. It will be very helpful to follow them closely if you need them.. I left an example link.
Alcohol markets, the only place where you can buy alcoholic beverages at home, are also closed during Ramadan.. We have not yet learned whether your chance to get a drink from Duty Free while entering the country continues during Ramadan.
The vast majority of bars, nightclubs and restaurants with alcohol licenses are completely closed.. Hotels can stay open, but absolutely no alcohol is served.. Let me tell you that there are places where drinks are served under the table, such as wine in black water glasses, and there are “British Clubs” that have nothing to do with prohibitions.
Ramadan Prohibitions in Bahrain and Matters to be Considered
- During the month of Ramadan in Bahrain, it is forbidden to eat outside, drink water or smoke, chew gum, and there is a prison sentence for those who do not comply with this rule.
Let me explain this rule a little with examples.
The sick, elderly, pregnant or infants who are unable to fast are exempt from this ban.
Since the inside of the car is considered a public area, you have to follow the rule in the car when you are in traffic or when there are other cars around you.
But no one interferes in areas where there is no one or no one sees you, in areas where there are strangers or those who do not fast. The interior of the hotels with open restaurants is extremely comfortable; In addition to eating and drinking, you can also swim in the sea or the pool.. In our previous house, the pool was open during Ramadan and those who wanted continued to enjoy it.. (Even the Arabs were taking their food and going down to the poolside.) We put an end to the breakfast event on the balcony because we were afraid, but we could have continued if we wanted to.
Some companies can arrange a separate room for non-fasting people to eat.. Those who have a space of their own can also use the place where it is located.. The goal is to try to be as unobtrusive as possible.
As it turns out, how you act depends entirely on your environment.. If you are in a public area and in a predominantly Muslim or local area, there is absolutely no eating and drinking, but if there is no fasting person around, you are free.
- It is forbidden to go out in public drunk during Ramadan.. In other words, “If you do, drink at home this month, don’t show it to anyone else for a while.” they say.
- In this process, especially women are advised to dress a little more modestly; shoulders, chest and knee caps should be covered, tight clothes such as tights should not be preferred…
However, this can be revised according to your location.. There are many people who go for an afternoon jog in the Seef area; it is possible to see women wearing tights, shorts or singlets. Even the women who attend the iftar dinner in the Ramadan tent dress freely.
I wear what I want in Reef Island, but I try to be a little more attentive when I go to the mall or the market.. After the third Ramadan, we figured out where we can and what we can’t do.. In order not to encounter a situation that will spoil your taste, I recommend that you assume that these rules are 100% valid for places you are not sure and act accordingly..
- It’s on everyone’s lips, “It’s forbidden to listen to loud music. There is no music in Ramadan.” There is a saying, but this is not a rule that is applied everywhere, all the time.. Of course, venues with live music take a break during Ramadan, shops turn into silence, but you can hear music on the beach or in restaurants that are open during the day.. For example, our next-door neighbor continued their parties without slowing down.
- There is also the issue of intimacy between men and women.. Since Bahrain is not a country where you can kiss in public, it should not be strange that there is a special rule for Ramadan.. You are free again in places where Ramadan is not visited. Apart from that, we should not go beyond holding hands.
This year, all iftar, ghabga, sahur and gergaoon organizations have been canceled due to the corona virus.. Restaurants and cafes are only open to outside service even after iftar.. You can imagine how calm it was compared to normal time.. But under normal circumstances, seeing the month of Ramadan in Bahrain is a pleasant experience for me.. Even though I reacted when I first heard about it, when I started living in it, I started to accept the bans as reasonable.. Here, everywhere is decorated with pine trees at Christmas time, flowers and bugs are everywhere during Diwali, Easter, Halloween… People of all cultures can celebrate their own festival as they wish and Bahrain respects it.. In return, it is perfectly acceptable to expect respect for one’s own culture during Ramadan, isn’t it?
Articles That Might Interest You
Details of Salaries and Minimum Wages in Bahrain »
“Bahrain Misconceptions About “Working in” »
Our Experience of Online Grocery Shopping in Bahrain »
“How is Ramadan in Bahrain?” If you like the article, you can subscribe to the e-mail group or follow my social media accounts by filling out the form at the bottom of the page to be updated about other articles.
