Hello friends, I feel good due to writing again after a long break. We are experiencing Ramadan month again and it is time to talk about Ramadan and Ramadan in Istanbul. As it is usual, firstly I will mention about Ramadan then about Ramadan in Istanbul. So this is going to be complementary to the Ramadan in Istanbul.

Ramadan Month

Ramadan (Ramazan in Turkish) month of 2010 year started 11th August. Muslim people started to fast and assessing this holy month. In Ramadan, muslims fast from dawn to sunset during the whole month of Ramadan. People mostly eat two main meal; one is “iftar” fast-breaking meal at the time of Maghrib Adhan (prayer calling for evening worship) and the other is “sahoor” meal to be prepared for fast of next day at the time before Fajr Adhan (prayer calling for dawn prayer). Furthermore, there is a 3 days of feast right after Ramadan month. There are many hidden causes beyond the Ramadan and feast rituals. But, we can say it is like a rehearsal of life and afterlife. It tells us if you try well in Ramadan, you reach to the feast in such a manner that if you do well on the earth, you reach to the Paradise . Less or more religious people try to take care of their actions in Ramadan month. People mostly abstain from bad habits and deeds in this month. As an indicator, every year police reports say  month crime rates, in Ramadan, are being lower than previous month.

I personally like the first moments after fast breaking time, it is like cover of silence comes onto the city and makes it more spiritual. Well, it is hard to notice that silence in some centers of the city but in many places one can feel it. There are just a few people on the street and almost no car in that moments of silence. I enjoy it.

Ramadan in Istanbul

Non-muslims or not-fasting people can easily find food, drinks and mostly restaurants are open in day time. So as a visitor, this time range is not an inconvenience for you.

Some Turkish families prefer to have their fast breaking meals around some places such as  Sultanahmet Square, The Blue Mosque ,  Eyub Sultan Mosque and some other great mosques. Families spread covers on the grass and have iftar (fast breaking meal) with the food brought and made at home. So don’t be surprised when you see too many people sitting on the grass about sunset Having iftar around those mosques are being a new tradition of Istanbul city when we look back recent years.

Another Ramadan tradition that I want to mention about is “Mahya“. In Ramadan month, some words (mostly Qur’anic verses or islamic advices) are written between the minarets of some magnificent mosques through lighting. This tradition comes from Ottoman Empire time but in that time, due to lack of electricity, candles were used.

"Mahya"s are hung during month of Ramadan.

The picture seen above is the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii) and you see the Mahya that is hung between two minarets of itself saying “Allah loves who repentant ones” and it is a part of a verse in the Qur’an.

Cilck for 2010 istanbul ramadan schedule

In conclusion, I like Istanbul and Ramadan in Istanbul. What about you?