The Islamic month of fasting has a considerable impact here as it alters daily life. Entertainment centers, sports complexes, restaurants and shopping malls in the country suspend their daylight activities for a few weeks, and people flock to mosques to focus more on religious observance.
Pakistan begins preparing for Ramadan long before the holy month arrives. The government, for example, sets basic foodstuff prices to curb astronomical increases. Additionally, public workers are not obliged to work past noon once the month begins. The first Friday and the last 10 days of Ramadan are national holidays for schools and public institutions.
Inevitably, all this time off reflects in the street. Pakistani men wear casual clothes after work and go into the streets, to bazaars and to mosques, while women prepare for iftar (fast-breaking dinner). As relatives live close to one another, iftars tend to be family affairs. This fact brings with it a heavy burden on women, who have to feed many people at both iftars and suhoors (pre-dawn meals).
Ramadan is also a time when old traditions are revived. People visit each other and exchange gifts; they invite neighbors for pre-dawn meals and fast-breaking dinners.
The summer’s scorching heat makes water very important. People wait in long lines in front of water stations to receive water to be used at iftar, which is often held in parks and gardens. The amount of clean water is far from adequate for Pakistan’s large population.
Charitable giving is important at Ramadan as well. Many break their fast with traditional meals at iftar tables set up by wealthy businessmen and local administrators in parks and mosques. Restaurants come back to life and remain open until suhoor.
As Pakistani cities have plenty of mosques, it is possible to hear many adhans (calls to prayer) at once. One of the most beautiful Ramadan traditions in Pakistan is the two-dinner regimen. After the adhan for the sunset prayer is recited, Pakistanis break their fast with samosa (a kind of pastry), fruit salad, dates and sherbet prepared with rose water.
Following the iftar, family members line up in straight rows for the sunset prayer. Afterwards, the men and boys head to mosques for the terawih prayer. Pakistanis recite the whole Quran during the terawih prayer; in other words, they recite about a 30th every night, meaning the prayer takes around two hours every day. Although it takes a long time to finish the prayer, mosques teem with believers throughout the holy month. In the last 10 days, a festive atmosphere abounds. Mosques are decorated and illuminated. Another tradition worthy of note is that Pakistanis recite the whole Quran for a second time in the terawih prayer of the final three or four days of this month. Thus, the terawih prayer lasts until the early morning hours.
After the prayer, Pakistanis have a second dinner. Rice is an integral part and meals are spicy and heavy.
People playing musical instruments in the streets come by every morning to wake everyone u for suhoor, which oftentimes consists of prata (fried pastry) and tea with milk. Cheese, olives and jams -- common in Turkey -- are not something eaten here.
An honor that differentiates Pakistan from some other Islamic countries is that it possesses some of the holy garments of the Prophet Muhammad. Turkey shares this honor. The historic city of Lahore sees an influx of visitors during Ramadan as they al come to see the garments.
Here is a collection of pictures from the first week of the observance of Ramadan
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