Ramadan, holy month, Ramadan and Navratri start on same day!

Ramadan means “scorching heat”, glowing”, purified where spiritual rewards (thawab) of fasting are believed to be multiplied during Ramadan.

Hindu’s Vasant Navratri

This year, Ramadan and Navratri 2022 begin on the same day! Navratri is the Hindu festival associated with the prominent battle that took place between Durga and the demon Mahishasura to celebrate the victory of good over evil. These nine days are solely dedicated to Durga and her nine avatars – the Navadurga.  Each day is associated with an incarnation of the goddess.  While celebrated in Autumn, Vasant Navratri is celebrated in Spring.

Chaitra Navratri, also known as Vasant Navratri, is devoted to Goddess Durga usually falling in March or April and marks the first day of the Hindu calendar.  Vasant Navaratri, the spring power time celebrated in the month of Chitra (March-April), which Hindus believe is the ideal nine nights to invoke the powerful energy of Durga Goddess and believe she iis the Divine feminine archetypal energy helps manifest affluence, a positive spirit, and changes consciousness to be victorious in all counts.

Muslims’ Ramadan

Ramadan is observed widely all over the globe holding a 30-day fast.  Muslims believe that Allah opens doors of goodness and allows His mercy to flow in throughout April and any prayers made during this month with a pure heart are answered.  The spiritual rewards (thawab) of fasting are believed to be multiplied during Ramadan.

During this 30-day period of self-restraint, Muslims abstain not only from food and drink, but also from tobacco products, sexual relations, and profane behavior, devoting themselves instead to salat (prayer) and recitation of the Quran.

It is a time of profound spiritual reflection, aims to become a better human and elevate levels of worship and devotion. Muslims endeavor to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam. The fast (sawm) begins at dawn and ends at sunset.

Fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the soul by freeing it from harmful impurities. Muslims believe that Ramadan teaches them to practice self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate, thus encouraging actions of generosity and compulsory charity (zakat).  Muslims also believe fasting helps instill compassion for the food-insecure poor.

Ramadan is also spelled Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan or Ramathan, is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (sawm), prayer, reflection, and community.

It is a commemoration of Muhammad’s first revelation, and the yearly observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam lasting twenty-nine to thirty days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.

“The crescent of #Ramadan was seen in multiple locations in Saudi Arabia, subsequently 1st Ramadan will be on Saturday, 2nd April 2022,  Taraweeh will start tonight after Isha,” tweets The Holy Mosque’s.

BREAKING NEWS: The Crescent of #Ramadan  1443/ 2022 was SEEN in multiple Locations in Saudi Arabia, subsequently 1st Ramadan 1443 will be on Saturday, 2nd April 2022,Taraweeh will start tonight after Isha.. pic.twitter.com/gkcOJTMbzS

— The Holy Mosque's (@theholymosques) April 1, 2022

Fasting

Fasting from dawn to sunset is fard (obligatory) for all adult Muslims who are not acutely or chronically ill, travelling, elderly, breastfeeding, diabetic, or menstruating. The predawn meal is referred to as suhur, and the nightly feast that breaks the fast is called iftar. Although fatwas have been issued declaring that Muslims who live in regions with a midnight sun or polar night should follow the timetable of Mecca, it is common practice to follow the timetable of the closest country in which night can be distinguished from day.

Hilal is the moon seen before sunset to determine the month of Ramadan.

Exemptions to fasting include travel, menstruation, severe illness, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. However, many Muslims with medical conditions insist on fasting to satisfy their spiritual needs, although it is not recommended by hadith. Those unable to fast are obligated to make up the missed days later.

Charity

Zakāt and Sadaqah Zakāt, often translated as “the poor-rate”, is the fixed percentage of income a believer is required to give to the poor; the practice is obligatory as one of the pillars of Islam. Muslims believe that good deeds are rewarded more abundantly during Ramadan than at any other time of the year; consequently, many Muslims donate a larger portion – or even all – of their yearly zakāt during this month.

Nightly prayers or Tarawih

Tarawih is the additional night prayers performed during the month of Ramadan. Contrary to popular belief, they are not compulsory.

Recitation of the Quran

Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Quran, which comprises thirty juz’ (sections), over the thirty days of Ramadan. Some Muslims incorporate a recitation of one juz’ into each of the thirty tarawih sessions observed during the month.

Muslims believe that all scripture was revealed during Ramadan, the scrolls of Abraham, Torah, Psalms, Gospel, and Quran having been handed down on the first, sixth, twelfth, and thirteenth respectively.

Prophet Muhammed is said to have received his first quranic revelation on Laylat al-Qadr, one of five odd-numbered nights that fall during the last ten days of Ramadan.

“In preparations for Ramadan, the roof of the Ka’bah is being cleaned with robot technology” tweets Haramain Sharifain, from the news publication, Haramain Sharifain in Saudi Arabia.

In preparations for #Ramadan, the roof of the Ka’bah is being cleaned with Robot technology pic.twitter.com/oz5Aur2cRU

— Haramain Sharifain (@hsharifain) March 31, 2022

Ramazan and Navratri’s Message

Ramazan and Navratri this year on the same day send out a strong signal of togetherness amid a lot of disturbances in India.  It is a message that Indians forgive one another, pray together, fast together, later feast together celebrate together, and value everyone with Divine love.