Have you ever felt like you were a fish swimming up stream against a mass of people walking the other direction from you. Well last night I did. Ramadan is coming to an end and you can feel the excitement for the celebration rising. Here is Burkina about half the population is Muslim and you really sense this during Muslim celebrations. Last night was the 26th day of Ramadan and people were heading to the stadium near where I live to pray all night and feast at 4am. The daily routine for the past month has been that people, including the family with which I live, get up at 4am and eat then go back to bed till 6am. During the day they do not eat or drink. I have to admit that in this heat I have no idea how they do, must be the power of belief. Then at 7pm they are able to eat and drink again. This cycle repeats each day for 30 days. During the day, but this continues even after Ramadan, they pray at least 4 times. Now since last night was the 26th day people were dressed in beautiful outfits and heading to the stadium or different points around town. Food was being carted on women’s heads or large pots being pulled by donkey carts. Little kids walked with pride to help carry the pray rugs. All night we could hear the faint rumble for the Imam at the mosque.
Now as the real party approaches, women everywhere are busy cooking up a huge feast for Saturday when people will celebrate the end of Ramadan, often bringing food and gifts to their neighbours.
Allah ka sun gnouma la ban (Good end of Ramadan)
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