Ramadan in 2017 will start on Saturday, the 27th of May (27/5/2017) and will continue for 30 days until Sunday, the 25th of June.
Note that in the Muslim calendar, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Ramadan on the sunset of Friday, the 26th of May.
Although Ramadan is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year, since the Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar and the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. This difference means Ramadan moves in the Gregorian calendar approximately 11 days every year. The date of Ramadan may also vary from country to country depending on whether the moon has been sighted or not.
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Geylang Serai bathed in colourful lights for annual Hari Raya light-up
Launch of the Hari Raya light up on May 20, 2017.ST VIDEO: NG SOR LUAN
The streets of Geylang Serai were illuminated with thousands of colored lights as part of the annual Hari Raya light-up, officially launched on Sat (May 20) evening.
The centrepiece for this year's light-up is a kampung house spanning the road & flanked by giant leaves designed to look like the traditional Malay songket brocade.
Other installations include a giant 4.4m Kelantanese kite and 12m kelong & sampan.
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When is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the ninth month* of the Muslim calendar. It is during this month that Muslims fast.
It is called the Fast of Ramadan and lasts the entire month. Ramadan is a time when Muslims concentrate on their faith and spend less time on the concerns of their everyday lives. It is a time of worship and contemplation
During the Fast of Ramadan strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of Muslims. They are not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight hours. Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting.
At the end of each day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the iftar. In the evening following the iftar it is customary for Muslims to go out visiting family and friends. The fast is resumed the next morning
During Ramadan, it is common for Muslims to go to the Masjid (Mosque) and spend several hours praying and studying the Quran. In addition to the five daily prayers, during Ramadan Muslims recite a special prayer called the Taraweeh prayer (Night Prayer). The length of this prayer is usually 2-3 times as long as the daily prayers. Some Muslims spend the entire night in prayer.
The holiday of Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and the start of the next lunar month, Shawwal. This day is declared when the crescent new moon has been sighted or if sighting of the moon is not possible due to the weather, the completion of 30 days of fasting.
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The True Meaning of Ramadan
Before the feasting, there’s the fasting … And we’ve got a list of everything you need to know about Ramadan and Hari Raya Puasa. Hari Raya Puasa is an integral part of Singapore culture, and it’s a time for Muslims to focus on familial bonds. But before we get to the good food and celebrations, there is first a month of abstinence known as Ramadan.
What is Ramadan? It is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and a period of fasting prior to the Hari Raya Puasa festivities. During Ramadan (this year, it will last from June 16 to July 16), the Muslim community refrains from eating or drinking from dawn until dusk. It is also a time for physical and spiritual discipline and charity, and is considered to be an auspicious month for Muslims.
So what then, is Hari Raya Puasa? Contrary to popular belief, it is not the start of a Muslim New Year, but a celebration to mark the end of the fasting month.
How does a typical day of fasting go? The day begins with a pre-dawn meal known as sahur, followed by the fast until sunset, when families and friends gather for the iftar. This is when the fast is broken with dates before a full meal.
What are some of the traditions practiced during Hari Raya Puasa? On the morning of Hari Raya Puasa, members of the family seek forgiveness from their elders after prayers at the mosque, and young children are given little green packets of money, similar to the Chinese hong bao (red packet). Some families visit the cemetery on the morning of Hari Raya Puasa to pay their respects to departed relatives and loved ones. You’ll see families dressed in outfits of the same colour, which is a common way of displaying unity.
Should I bring a gift if I’m invited to a friend’s home for Hari Raya Puasa? While these are not required, you can bring along a small gift, or buah tangan, if you like. Recommended gift ideas include desserts such as cookies, cakes or traditional Malay kueh to share with visitors. You can find these at bakeries or supermarkets. But steer clear of all things alcohol and, of course, avoid pork.
Experience Ramadan - These two places are the best to soak in the Ramadan and Hari Raya atmosphere. Geylang Serai is transformed into a colourful world of food and fabric during the month of Ramadan. Besides textiles, Geylang is a vibrant foodie haven which houses a vast selection of savoury snacks and Malay street food like kuih gulung (green crepe with sweet coconut filling), keropok lekor (fish crackers), pisang goring (banana fritters), kebabs and the ever popular Ramly burger and Roti John (thick omelette sandwich) which hail from Malaysia. Look out for glittering lights and Hari Raya street decorations at Geylang Serai from June 13 to July 16!
To buy traditional Malay outfits, head for Arab Street, which has beautiful fabrics and ready-made baju kurung for women, and the baju Melayu for men.
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What is Ramadan?
It is a big week for the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims - 22 per cent of the entire global population - as they get ready for the holy month of Ramadan.
The annual period will see prayer, fasting, and giving to charity become the focus of their everyday lives for an entire month.
For non-Muslims and those less familiar with the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, here are the five main things you need to know about Ramadan 2016:
Ramadan is the ninth month of Islam’s lunar calendar, a system which sees each month begin at the sighting of the new moon. According to some scholars, the month is said to be the one in which the Qur'an was first revealed, making it the holiest and most sacred month for Muslims.
It is the period when Muslims fast every day from sunrise to sunset, and is one of the five pillars - or duties - of Islam. Not only do Muslims abstain from food and drink, it is also a time of deep contemplation and prayer to Allah, and also charitable generosity.
All able-bodied Muslims are required to take part in Ramadan. Although there is some debate over the age at which young Muslims should begin to take part, it is typically at around ten to 12-years-old.
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