Ramzan unravels as one gains age

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)