CHENNAI: For Ansa Swereva from Aminjikarai, practicing the five pillars of Islam is the most important and mandatory aspect during the thirty days of the holy month. She belongs to the Mapilla Muslims of Palakkad. Although she has a modern approach to a few aspects, she is sincere and strict about fasting during this period.
“Every religious aspect has a reason behind it. These thirty days of this holy month is considered to be sacred in our religion. It rejuvenates our physical health and mental health as we let go of negative emotions like hatred, greed and devoid ourselves of worldly pleasures. The body is solely dedicated to God and we spend most of the time in prayers. By following these traditions every year, it helps us transform into better human beings,” explains Ansa, a homemaker.
Islam stands strong on five pillars — praying five times a day, observing fast during Ramadan, worshipping Allah as the only god, giving alms to the needy and going on a pilgrimage to Mecca. “Reading verses from the Quran is considered auspicious. Some people read continuously throughout the fast, but I read a few verses when time permits. We also have classes on our religious scriptures. It’s always good to know the values and reasons behind the holy rituals we follow,” she explains. Ansa shares that fasting is allowed only for children eight years and above. People who are constantly travelling, pregnant women, menstruating women, senior citizens who have health issues and need to take medicines on time can be exempted from fasting. Some people compensate for the missed out days after Ramzan or during later months of the same year.
After the azaan (prayer call) Ansa breaks her fast with a fresh juice, nombu kanji and ethapazham (dates in Malayalam). “We also have fried snacks like samosa, vada and pazham pori (bajji made of ripened banana). It is always better to eat nutritious food after so many hours of leaving your stomach empty. I have fruits and vegetable salad most of the time. The main purpose of fasting is to detoxify your body. So if you bombard your body with junk after all-day fasting, the body’s metablic activity can take a hit. I eat a balanced diet,” she explains. Her family always has a lavish spread of ari podi or rice-based items predominantly for iftar and on the day of Eid. Some of the sumptuous preparations include pathiri, idiyappam (usually with chicken curry), puttu and biryanis.
“During the first two days of fasting, your body might take time to adjust to the sudden change in the digestive system. It’s common to feel dizzy and tired. The challenging part is to sustain the thirst during summer. It’s only during fasting that you realise the importance of food. We give more alms to poor people during these 30 days.
There is a sense of satisfaction after breaking the fast both physically and mentally,” says Ansa. She is determined to inculcate the practice of fasting in her six-year-old daughter as soon as she turns eight. “She must know the values of our religion. My parents were not very strict and did not force things upon me. I would be the same with my daughter. Even if she wants to practice things that I don’t she is free to do. This legacy has to continue for generations,” she says.
