site.btaRamadan Begins in Turkiye as Country Prepares for Local Elections

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan begins in 85-million Turkiye on Monday, March 11.

During the month, Muslims who observe the fast wake up before sunrise to have a pre-fasting meal, or suhur. The fast continues until sunset and entails abstinence from eating, drinking, and sexual relations during daylight hours.

After sundown, a gun salute and a call to prayer by the imam from the mosque announce the end of the day's fast and observant Muslims are invited to the Ramadan dinner, called iftar.

The first iftar of 2024 will take place on Monday evening. It is the key tradition of Ramadan. The iftar begins with a glass of water and dates, followed by a number of traditional delicacies. Soup, olives, pastrami, lean and meat dishes, desserts, tea, and coffee are a must. Families, relatives, friends, and colleagues gather for the iftar.

Afterwards, the mosque is visited, where the Taraweeh prayer is served. The first Taraweeh prayer will take place this Monday evening in all of Turkiye's more than 70,000 mosques. Mosques are open all night throughout this month. Their domes are decorated with light messages reading "Welcome Ramadan, Sultan of the 11 Months" and "Ramadan Is a Blessing".

In addition to religious rituals, entertainment programmes, and social and cultural events are organized during Ramadan and last late into the night.

During Ramadan, government and municipal offices and businesses change their working hours to facilitate the movement of people observing the iftar dinner ritual. Supermarkets are open longer hours. Public transport in Istanbul will run until 2 a.m. during the month of the fast, the local authorities said.

Ramadan will last 30 days. The Shawwal moon is expected to be sighed on the evening of April 9, which will mark the end of the holy month of fasting.

On April 10, the three-day festival of Ramadan Bayram will begin. It is also called Seker Bayram, or Sugar Feast, because of the sweet treats enjoyed on this holiday.

Ramadan is the most auspicious month of the Islamic calendar and is always looked forward to by the faithful, as it is one of the five main pillars of Islam.

Ramadan is usually associated with fasting, but it is much more than that. It is actually meant to teach Muslims spirituality, patience, and humility. It is about compassion for the suffering and those in need, hence the motto "Ramadan Is Solidarity". It is also about sharing a meal together: with friends, colleagues, etc. Traditionally, every company or enterprise owner should host an iftar for their employees. Municipalities also hold iftars for the local population. 

Media outlets in Turkiye note that this year's Ramadan is expected to be marked by the upcoming local elections on March 31. The election campaign runs throughout the month, with rallies by candidates and political parties.