Crescent moon sighted, signaling start of Ramzan

Hyderabad

Little boys and girls paced impatiently across the courtyards of mosques, craning their necks skywards soon after Maghrib, the evening prayers. They were waiting for the announcement of the sighting of the crescent that would signal the arrival of the month of Ramzan.

No sooner did the sirens atop the minarets went off a little after 7 p.m., indicating that the holy month had begun, than their impatience turned into joy, with children cheering and breaking into smiles.

The moment came soon after the Markazi Ruiyat-e-Hilal (Central Moon Sighting) Committee sent a communication announcing that February 19 would correspond to the first day of Ramzan, meaning that the first Taraweeh prayers would begin on Wednesday night. The Committee stated that the skies were clear, and reports of the sighting of the new moon had come from several parts of the country, including Bihar, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra.

As the sirens began to sound across neighbourhoods, people congratulated each other on the arrival of the holy month, exchanging greetings. Social media and messaging services were awash with images of the crescent moon accompanied by celebratory messages and prayers for peace and prosperity.

Many residents stepped out to purchase dates and last minute groceries, while others began preparing to head to neighbourhood masjids for the special Taraweeh prayers held after the night prayer.

Several masjids were brightly illuminated, with freshly laid prayer mats and carpets, as they awaited worshippers for what is considered one of the most spiritually significant months in the Islamic calendar.

For food enthusiasts cutting across faiths, it also marked the beginning of the much anticipated haleem season. Haleem bhattis were already steaming, with the aroma wafting through lanes and bylanes, drawing crowds who made a beeline for their favourite outlets.

In the run-up to the holy month, Muslim clerics and scholars had taken to social media to repeatedly remind the community that Ramzan was a month of fasting, restraint, and spiritual reflection, not indulgence. They urged people to avoid excessive spending on shopping and not visit exhibitions during the season, and instead devote themselves to prayer, charity, and contemplation.