FASTING IN RAMADHAN

Well today is the 9th. day of fasting in the holy month of Ramadhan. I don't remember really at what age I started to fast. But I know for a fact, children these days start to fast as early as four years old! They are not forced to fast but they want to emulate the grown-ups who abstain from taking any food and drink from dawn to dusk. Furthermore children attend kindergartens or pre-schools much earlier than my time. Thus they are exposed to peer groups, exchanging notes sort of and don't want to be left out. At first they begin by fasting for a few hours, then to half a day, then gradually increasing to a full day like the grown-ups. At the end, they would be rewarded by the grown-ups with monetary rewards or some desired wish.

Food was abundant at breaking fast time when I was young. We didn't have the pasar malam (night market) or pasar Ramadhan (Ramadhan market) then. One thing I distinctly remember was the block of ice covered with sawdust bought from the vendor across the road from my father's shop. Was he ever popular! We didn't have a fridge so the block of ice and the cool drinks were welcome indeed. I remember my Mom and my Aunt filling up the dining table with all sorts of goodies. Once when I was nine, I over-ate and almost suffocated! I lay on the lazy chair out of breath, struggling . . panting . . my Mom had to pat hard on my back until I burped!

Wakey, wakey . . . . Iddinnnnn . . .

Then the sahur or pre-dawn meal. Long time ago we were awaken at 1.00 a.m. , had our meal (me with one eye closed) then back to sleep to be awaken early next morning ready for school. Now it's more sensible. We have our sahur at 5.00 a.m. filling up before the morning call to prayer when it is time to start fasting again. Happy fasting and God bless!