Ya Rayi Our Rai

Umair Salam from Salambazar by Farid Zadi

I'd like to introduce another writer to Ya Rayi Our Rai by linking to a post about fasting during Ramadan. Click on the gallery to see the wonderful work by artist Sadia Salam.

Ramadan in Istanbul by Bob Beer

Ramadan in Istanbul My first visit to Istanbul in 1982 coincided with Ramadan; but apart from the lines of people in front of restaurants waiting for the appointed hour to break their fasts, I can’t say it really affected me much. The country was still under martial law with curfew in effect, putting a damper on evening activities past 12:00. I didn’t know many Turks, and most of those I’d met were of a non-orthodox sect of Islam that generally do not fast; but even that was not openly discussed during those repressive times. Only one of my new group of friends was niyetli, or "with intent," as one who is fasting says of himself, and was getting some ribbing from the others. "Papaz" they said, pointing to him and laughing. "Priest." He took their joking good-naturedly. I do remember being impressed by timetables on the evening news giving the exact time to the minute for iftar, the breaking of the fast for all the major cities of Turkey. And perhaps there was more food being sold on the street than normal, but "normal" was still so much! It seemed then that almost as many people were not fasting as were. Now, having lived here for nearly six years, I’m amazed that I could have been so oblivious to Ramadan, or Ramazan as it as known here. The fast held during Ramaz is considered one of the five pillars of Islam. Whether you are Muslim or not, it’s a special time; life takes on a different rhythm. The observant try to focus on more spiritual things during the month, and many who consider themselves rather lax Muslims try to be a little better. The particulars vary across the Muslim world, but in Turkey, a typical day during Ramazan goes like this: an hour and a half before sunrise, people are woken up by the Ramazan davulcusu, or Ramadan drummers, who walk around the neighborhoods with a big double-headed drum. They beat out a variety of rhythms, and in between rounds, they may also sing a mani, a rhyming couplet. A couple of common ones are:

Hidangan Berbuka Puasa di Rebung Chef Ismail by Choo Teck Poh

Hidangan Berbuka Puasa di Rebung

Chef Ismail (Breaking Fast Spread at Chef Ismail's Rebung

-  Malay Cuisine at its Best  -

WELCOME TO CHEF ISMAIL'S REBUNG!

Iftar Sofrasi

  Iftar Sofrasi 
  Originally uploaded by filiz.

iftar Leila

  iftar 
  Originally uploaded by sisterscorpion.

Karipap tu aku (tolong tengok orang) buat

  Karipap tu aku (tolong tengok orang) buat 

Iftar Photo

Uighur Muslim Foods Submitted by Book of Rai reader

My notes from a recent trip to Khotan, Karghilik, Yarkand, Kashgar, and Urumqi, all in Xinjiang. Using Mandarin and basic Uighur, we were able to get the names and ingredients of most of the dishes we tried, and I’ve listed them here with a brief description. This was my first trip to Xinjiang; any insights or corrections would be welcome.

(grilling kabob)

Ramadhan in Malaysia by Choo Teck Poh

In Malaysia, many food bazaars are set up in every neighborhood, ranging from just a few stalls to as many as a few dozens in the bigger ones. Business usually start from 4 pm as office hours are shortened by around half to one hour depending on how much the usual lunch hour is spent working. Hotels and restaurants offer impressive buka puasa (breaking fast) spreads. This is a bazaar within walking distance from my house.

RAMADAN STALLS

and the goodies we went home with From left: Sour Plum, Orange, Mata Kuching or Cat's Eye is a small fruit in the lychee family. The seeds resemble a cat's eye.

A Simple Before Morning Meal by Farid Zadi

This photo is courtesy of Etheria. It's crucial to wake up early enough to eat something during Ramadan. If you have the discipline to fast, have the discipline to wake up early enough for this. I know it is hard. But even a little carbohydrates and starch in your stomach will help you get through the day.

Ramadhan bazaar at Sri Damansara

The photos are courtesy of Suanie , a Malaysian blogger.

I am paraphrasing her descriptions. I know little of Malaysian dishes.

Beginning at the top right and moving clockwise: kuih (cakes), assorted dishes, kuih tepung pelita, keropok lekor.