The holy month of Ramzan is also a month self-imposed restrictions and series of corrections in our lives. It is a season we keep off from the busy toil of life and look inward. We realise mistakes and correct ourselves ruminating on our own lives.
But, alas, now it has deteriorated into a season of food festivals. I am in Thalassery and walking down the streets, one will be welcomed by boards of ‘Ramzan Food Festival’ in every nook and corner.
In fact, the holy month has nothing to do with festivals. It is totally against festival of all sorts. It is a month of sacrifice. That is why we perform fasting. The holy month aims at posing a challenge to the trend of feasting and reminds the believers of the plight of those living in hunger and penury. It gives a chance for both the rich and poor to experience hunger, thus becoming more empathetic to poor. So, it is against the market economy.
In this month, the expenditure of a house should be reduced by 70 per cent whereas, in fact, the household expenditure jumps to almost double. I fear the market has conquered the spirit of Ramzan.
The holiness of fasting lost its grace with the Octopus’ hands of market suffocating it year by year. What we see now around is not the real spirit. It is high time there should be an effort to liberate Ramzan from the clutches of market and restore its real holy spirit.
(Shihabudheen Poythumkadavu is a well-known writer)
