Australia's 600,000 Muslims have originated from more than 70 countries around the world.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by an estimated 1.8 billion people, as a month of fasting from sunrise to sunset, prayer, personal reflection and community. It lasts 29-30 days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.
It's followed by or "Festival of Breaking the Fast", celebrating the end of the month-long fasting. The three-day celebration starts with Muslims praying together and is also an occasion for families to get together and eat traditional foods only made during Eid.
Indonesian Muslims gather at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, Banda Aceh, Indonesia, 17 May 2018. Source: AAP
INDONESIA
With over 300 ethnic groups and 700 regional languages, people across Indonesia’s archipelago welcome the holy month of Ramadan in their own ways. Some have been maintained in Australia.
Nyorog – Jakarta - Betawi people, the natives of Jakarta, have their own tradition related to the holy month. Nyorog is a tradition observed to strengthen ties between family members.
Indonesian youths light firecrackers and flares as they celebrate the end of the fasting month of Ramadan on a street in Jakarta, Indonesia, June 4, 2019 Source: AP
Padusan – Central Java Tengah - People usually perform ceremonies for bathing or bathing in wells and springs considered sacred. Padusan means that the soul and body of a person who is going to perform fasting are physically and mentally cleansed. Today, most people do it in their own homes.
Bagarakan Sahur - South Kalimantan - The tradition usually involves young people performing rhythmic sounds from everyday items such as cans and bottles to wake the people for their pre-dawn meal.
Festival Ela-Ela – Ternate - People of Ternate burn torches on certain nights of Ramadan. It's the belief that angels are descending from heaven, so the torches are lit to light the angels' way. Resin is also burnt to perfume the air.
Residents of the subdistrict of Tebet play fire football to celebrate the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan on June 27, 2014 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Source: Getty Images
Ricky Onggokusumo - Executive Producer, SBS Indonesian
CHINA
China has a large Muslim population – around 1.6 per cent of the total population, or around .
There are ten ethnic minority groups in China that are Muslim, including Hui, Uyghur, Kazakh, Dongxiang, Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, Salar, Tajik, Bonan and Tatar.
According to Brother Yayah, a Chinese Hui Muslim who lives in Sydney, Ramadan is a busy time for Muslims. People invite family relatives and friends to their home to enjoy Iftar meals because they believe by doing so, they can share the blessing from that day with them.
It is common for Chinese Muslims to read the Quran and pray in Arabic. Brother Yayah says even children aged seven or eight can recite the entire Quran in Arabic, but not necessarily understand Arabic.
Muslims break fast with other devotees on the first day of the fasting month of Ramadan at the Niujie Mosque in Beijing city, China, 13 April 2021. Source: AAP
The Islamic month of Ramadan is usually a time for families to get together, but for international students living away from home like Harry Dong, it presents a time to congregate, fast and pray with his “brothers and sisters” in Australia.
As a member of the Islamic Society of UNSW, he heads to the university’s Religious Centre every day after sunset to pray and enjoy an Iftar meal with other Muslim students and staff.
One of these favourite things during Ramadan is they can enjoy food from a different culture as they are donated by Muslim communities from different backgrounds.
Juncheng Guo, Producer, SBS Chinese
TURKEY
There are a few Ramadan essentials on every . Firstly, no Ramadan table can do without “Ramazan pide,” a plain flatbread that is only sold during Ramadan.
People usually buy it just before iftar so that it's nice and warm. You can’t buy it in the morning. I still don’t understand why bakers don’t sell “Ramadan pide” 365 days of the year.
There is also “Güllaç,” a dessert made from milk, pomegranate and a special kind of pastry. It is like baclava, as it is made from layers of pastry but texture-wise it is more like a pudding.
Tradition Ramazan pide. Source: SBS
Some believe it is the precursor of baclava and if that’s so, I believe baclava is a definite improvement. Both are made by many members of the Australian Turkish community during Ramadan.
In Turkey, many people call Eid al-Fitr, Sugar Bayram. As it comes after a month of fasting, many people eat plenty of candy. Of course, it is for children especially.
Traditional Ramadan Dessert Gullac Source: iStockphoto
It is a custom for children to go around knocking on the doors to collect candy, like trick and treat on Halloween, without the costumes. Usually, children wear their best clothes (Bayram cloths).
If you ever wondered how people got up for sahur in the middle of the night in the age before alarm clocks, wonder no more. In Turkey, your friendly neighbourhood drummer got up and made sure that all those fasting had their stomachs full before dawn.
These days, the rhythmic beat of this very percussive tradition can be heard throughout the country, from Istanbul to the smallest village. In large cities, they are seen as a mix between an ancient ritual that needs to be preserved and a nuisance.
Drummers wearing traditional clothsawaken people for sahur meal, the last meal before a long day of fastingly in Istanbul, Turkey on April 24, 2020. Source: Anadolu via Getty
Still, all the obstacles the modern age can muster, the drummers bang on…
Nejat Basar - Executive Producer, SBS Turkish
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
In Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and some other cities from the 18th century the cannon fire from the Yellow Fortress (Zuta Tabija in Sarajevo) marks the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.
The firing of cannons from hills above the cities is a centuries-old tradition of Bosnian Muslims during Ramadan and marks as well the end of each fasting day - time for iftar. Usually, during this ceremony, the cannoneer is wearing traditional clothes.
Percussion round is fired at sunset, every day during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, marking the end of daily fasting. Source: AFP via Getty
And one of the favourite iftar dish during Ramadan is Sarajevska topa, which consists of different kind of melted cheese and eggs.
It's eaten with lepinja (special during Ramadan small, tiny bread with black seed on the top). During the iftar "topa" is usually served as an appetizer.
Muslim Bosniaks make up around 40 percent of Bosnia's population of 3.8 million. Source: AAP
Aisa Hadziahmetovic, Producer, SBS Bosnian
A Sierra Leonean family in Sydney celebrates the end of fasting for the month of Ramadan with fellow Muslim friends and a feast of traditional flavours. Source: SBS Food
JORDAN
I remember one of the most famous Ramadan rituals, in Amman, Jordan, was going to the bakery with mum to buy the most famous dessert’s dough (Katayef) and take it home and stuff some with cream, cheese, and others with nuts.
We used to queue in a very long line to get them fresh, warm and fluffy.
via SBS Food
Traditional pancakes - katayef. Source: Alan Benson/SBS Food
My favourite one was made with Cream. Nuts and cheese Katayef often needs to be deep-fried and then dipped in sugar syrup before eating.
We used to make tens of those, to eat them after Iftar, with Arabic blonde coffee (mostly known in Saudi Arabia) until you can’t fit any of it in your tummy anymore.
Jordanians shop for traditional lanterns known as "Fanous", at a market in the capital Amman as the the fasting month begins. Source: AFP via Getty
Maram Ismail, Producer, Arabic24
AFGHANISTAN
Afghans have a custom of sharing a plate of food with neighbours for breaking the fast. The elderly will break their fast in the mosque and take a plate of food to share with others.
In Sydney, on my street, some of the houses are decorated with lights for Ramadan and I have also decorated my house only to give the kids a sense of celebration and belonging.
For Eid, we have the custom to wear new clothes and visit family and relatives houses. We first go to the house of the family member who is more senior for respect.
Some houses in Australia are decorated with lights for Ramadan. Source: SBS Pashto
In Afghan customs the elder the more respected the person becomes. We also give money (Eidana) to the kids.
We are blessed to have the opportunities to visit the Eid festival across Australia, where we enjoy food, shopping and rides.
An Afghan mother and her child keep warm as they wait for a taxi after visiting relatives during Eid, Feb, 2003 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Source: Getty
Abdullah Alikhil - Executive Editor, SBS Pashto
PAKISTAN
Iftar gatherings, charity Iftar and free meals campaigns are run by many Pakistani community groups throughout Australia during Ramadan.
The late evening festivity of Chand Raat marks the end of Ramadan and very popular among Pakistanis and equally celebrated by Australian Pakistanis.
Once the Eid moon is seen at the end of Ramadan, women flock to markets to buy colourful bangles and ornaments to match their outfits. They decorate their hands with henna to celebrate Eid.
Pakistani customers buy bangles ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr in Islamabad, Pakistan. Source: AAP
Ramadan night cricket tournaments are very popular amongst youngsters.
When worshipers filled the mosques and streets are empty on Ramadan night, streets are lit up, teams gather at street venues and night cricket matches start and end just before Sehri (the last moments of eating before fasting begins).
Night cricket in Pakistan. Source: SBS Urdu
Rehan Alavi - Executive Producer, SBS Urdu
INDIA
In the south Indian state of Kerala, which has a long history of Islam starting with the building of the first mosque in India in the 7th century AD by Malik bin Dinar – one of the companions of Prophet Mohammed - the last day of the Holy month of Ramadan is marked by colourful celebrations and firecrackers.
Mehndi – or henna – is the main part of the celebrations.
Women and children from the extended family group get together and decorate palms and hands with henna after breaking fast on the last day of the Ramadan month.
A girl in Australia gets her hands painted with henna to mark the festival of Eid Source: SBS Malayalam
Even though henna is a part of Eid celebrations in many other countries, Muslims in Kerala have created unique henna designs over time adapting to the Indian culture and other local festivals.
This marks the beginning of Eid celebrations. Boys and men in the family join the celebrations with firecrackers.
It is followed by sharing gifts – in the form of clothes, toys or monetary gifts.
The Kerala Muslim community groups in Australia follow these celebrations here in full spirit.
Muslims in Kerala have created unique henna designs adapting to Indian culture. Source: SBS Malayalam
Deeju Sivadas - Executive Producer, SBS Malayalam
IRAN
Ramadan plays an exceptional role in Iranian traditions and customs. People rise early before the dawn to have a pre-fast breakfast, called “Sahari” in Persian. The meal is usually light and normally consists of previously prepared foods.
The more elaborate meal comes at the end of the fasting day called “Iftar”. Iftar, if possible, is consumed with other close members of the family clan, friends and neighbours.
Fantastic stews, sweets, fresh , traditional Azari cheese with vegetables and nuts accompanied with a glass of tea to wash them down are what you can find on any dinner table in Iran during Ramadan.
Shiite Muslims break their fast during the "Iftar" dinner at Emamzadeh Saleh mosque in Tajrish square in northern Tehran, May 2017. Source: AFP via Getty
Even if you are not fasting, you are not allowed to eat and drink in public from sunrise to sunset. So, if you travel to Iran during Ramadan, you should be aware of this rule, otherwise, you will be caught by police.
Instead, the nightlife during Holy Month is quite fascinating. All coffee shops, restaurants, and even cinemas would start working from the evening. The whole city witnesses a lively atmosphere all through the night and does not sleep!
The last 10 days of Ramadan are especially important because the Quran was revealed in this month at the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr)
Peyman Jamali - Executive Producer, SBS Persian
