The innocence of simply emulating the elders during childhood when observing the month of Ramzan gets changed over the years. It is later in life, I understood the essence of Ramzan and its spiritual yearnings.
Physically I have not felt any difference. No tiredness has affected my work even amid hectic schedules. On days off, I feel like the day is not moving. From the perspective of health, the month brings a good amount of discipline on body and mind besides lowering the sugar and cholesterol levels. My experience is that a person on fasting cannot have heavy intake of food after sundown. It’s impossible to have no food during daytime and eat throughout the night. Usually I have a cup of ‘Jeeraka kanji’ for ‘Athazham’ at 4 am during the month.
The food extravaganza during the month can be seen only at Iftar parties and not in the households where the menu is simple as usual. I have noticed that in places like Kozhikode, the Iftar parties used to become a great venue of sharing bonhomie among the people of all walks of life.
That love and friendliness is unique and needs to be promoted. I feel sad that several age old customs like a group of people awakening the residents of the locality by beating the duff at 3 am for the ‘Athazham’ had gone. I have my vivid childhood memories of Ramzan at my hometown Kodungallur which was splendid.
(Mohammad Sagir is Kasargod district collector / As told to Amiya Meethal)
