Thursday, April 7, 2022

Memories Of Fasting Month Of Ramadan And Some flowers From front Yard

 

It is fasting month of Ramadan . My both sons younger and the youngest one are fasting regularly and fondly . It reminds me my own teenage days when i would feel excited to hear that fasting month is coming .We all girl cousins and friends would challenge each other to fast for more days and would finish holy book for more time . It was healthy competition between us in which we would participate enthusiastically each year while not realizing the intensity of it. As teenage girl spending whole day without food and water was nothing but an exciting adventure accompanied by feeling of peace that we made God happy. When after fourteen to fifteen hours Iftar time will come it would bring special joy to sit around all the tempting meals mom would prepare for family.(Azan) Call for evening prayer will announce that fasting time is over and now we can eat and drink as much as we want. Dates were considered most pious  to start with and we would hold a date in hand and first say prayer ( gratitude to God for giving us strength so we could fast) before start eating . The peace ,joy and above all the sense of accomplishment would shine through each face . Later we would stand up for evening prayer and later after one to two hours we would  take dinner . I feel so annoyed now  when my sons ask for friend stuff everyday at Iftar time and i do so because i have to fulfill their wish due to respect for their fasting ,but i remember that i too loved fried things( samosas and pakoras) most when i was young .  I try to follow mom's  tradition up for my kids too so they can have good memories when grow up. 

When my eldest son was growing up alone for ten years (yes my other both sons were born after ten and thirteen years after him) we both would compete well in finishing holy book repeatedly and fasting during month of Ramadan. We would try to finish holy book within Ramadan month twice or thrice and it would take lots of time. Sometimes because of intense house cleaning before Eid would make it late and we would complete it during last three nights of  this holy month . I miss those amazing and lovely days now when my eldest son is gone to pursue his dreams despite of all the happiness it gives me. 

My mom was full of life she would make each traditional event and festival special with her attention and love . My memories belong to Ramadan month are precious because mom had guts to create environment that would suit to it . Now when i can't fast anymore because of my health issues i want to relive those times with my parents. Unlike my mom my father was not religious man and he would hardly say a prayer in Eid day after much insistence of my mother .But my father had some hidden corner for God almighty and i know this because when we would get busy in prayers or recitation during nights in Ramadan my father would mumble some recitations quietly ,i would feel he was mumbling something from holy book but unclear sound  would make it suspicious until when at certain point my father's voice would rise and we would get he is reciting holy verses . This was another weird habit along with many others that my father had . Some day i will try to gather and post about the weird habits of my father . Some photos from my front yard ,hope you will like them friends. 


this was taken more than twenty days ago and i took it because i was having breakfast while sitting close to garden and early blooms of sunflower spoke to me delightfully so i put my cup on the desk ,went inside to pick up my phone and captured the moment that filled my heart with joy and peace :) i love sitting there and feeling the serenity that my little garden area delivers .a straight way that leads my heart towards my Creator and pay gratitude. i live here from sixteen years but each time i look at this view my heart overflows with happiness and gratefulness as i know this is all i need :) 


took almost ten days ago ,hubby has planted few rose plants and few other that seems to congest the area for sunflowers as they look less than last year 


tiger red roses are gorgeous but  fragrance less ,they appear rich in redness first but turn darker as black within week ,i was glad i could notice and capture their early look :)

when long ago i realized first that sunflower chase sun and turn towards it i found it fascinating and so relating to my own self because i loved looking at rising sun ,i would try to stare at sun with bare eyes ( yes weird habit and dangerous i know) and i had this habit until few years back ) my eyes would chase sun on sky and observe sunlight movement on ground .it would thrill me that i am standing on round glob which is moving round and round on it's axis ,that huge shining object is giving it light and heat which is responsible for all activities of life here ,this wondering grew up with me and getting clearer with days ,do i sound crazy ?  what can i do if i am made this way and feel like Alice in wonder land :)

some days ago when i got back from Karachi ,these gorgeous bunch of  roses welcomed me with their divine fragrance and soothing appearance next morning :) my heart filled with joy and i walked to them ,hold and inhaled their fragrance ,oh this was such a lovely gift ! 

same day when i captured roses above ,yes sunlight is still loved by me though i know from May first it will get scorching enough to avoid it until sunset . everything is beautiful until it does not looses it's balance right :)





Wishing you all a wonderful ,beautiful ,healthy life filled with health ,peace and happiness dear friends !



36 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing information about your family’s celebration of Ramadan, Baili. I appreciate knowing more about this holy month. Ramadan Mubarak.

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    1. dear Marie now in this part of age i know that nothing can be separated from life including religious knowledge though i am not a religious person still i believe that maker of this world has sent so many great people to spread goodness in this world and engage withered people of the world in good deeds together so Creator can see how his creation is flourishing itself as super being on earth , each religious practice has some meaning and is for adding goodness and discipline in the life of human beings . What religions told us at various time through different messengers has been truth proven by science today and is essential for balanced and healthy life style .

      My maternal grandfather was very religious man though not of strict kind for his children ,my mom used to tell many stories how much he loved her and would ride her on his shoulders ,mom's memories about her Ramadan were belong to my grandfather more than my grandmother who was less religious lady but very conscious about basic rules of life i mean good and bad ,right and wrong (universal definition) .
      i would surly share some more about how this month was special for us specially for me as teenager

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  2. Oh, Baili, your flowers are beautiful! Ours haven't sprouted yet but they will soon. Wishing you and your lovely family well. xo

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  3. A special time to share with family and make more memories! Love your flowers as always, especially that gorgeous sunflower!

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  4. our seasonal flowers last hardly two months dear Martha due to unbearable heat they fade sooner and then plant get dried early ,some rain can help them last bit longer but no rains here till August or months further to it now :(

    after seasonal flower disappear sunflower are the ones who keep our garden area vibrant and beautiful for few more months thankfully ,seeing them is such a delightful feeling indeed :)

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  5. Thank you for sharing what you and your family celebrate. It's so different from here and I like knowing about it. Your garden is just glorious. Have a wonderful day.

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    1. dear Nichole no matter how different things look on thee surface all is same when you reach to the bottom what a perfect saying that "all waters fall into one ocean" numerous people who recognized God through his creations tried to convince others that there is one divine force who deserve our love and obedience as sovereignty and this is for our own better survival ,it does not matter where they belonged to what matter was believing in their message and One Creator and message about the laws he created for mankind for his well being .but as we see people distract so easily specially power seeking people and tore and turn things according to their own personal benefits which defame most important things we need to know .

      i believe in all messengers and message they delivered as human not follower of certain decree because i think everything they shared was word of God or message of Nature whatever you call it ,it aimed on only one thing that "know your maker and care for all he created "

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  6. Thank you for sharing your memories of Ramadan.

    Your yard flowers are beautiful, such wonderful colour.

    Sending my good wishes.

    All the best Jan

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  7. love your garden photos - it looks so beautiful there on the patio/courtyard area. I would spend a lot of time out there. So interesting to read about fasting and your culture's religious holidays, etc. I know as a kid whose family was catholic i believe a lot of familys participaed in Lent and fasting etc. I don't remember that we ever did. The only thing we did was not eat meat on Fridays. Catholics are known especially Irish Catholics back in the day when I was a kid to enjoy their beer and such and make an appearance at church on Sundays and then go on with their rowdiness,afterwards, lol. But then who knows if my memory is that correct. I can only state whati heard and the little I remember about what my family was like when i was a kid. i know my mom's twin brothers were quite rowdy around town.

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    1. Oh i would love to have you here with me dear Sandy ,we would sit close to garden and talk over little things of life that is what i like most :)

      i learnt quite later that some other religion practice "fasting" too such as Hindus who avoid eating thing that are cooked on fire (hope i remember correctly)
      i think Catholic is more strict in practicing religion on regular bases than other groups of Christianity and i know mostly through movies and shows i see though the years.

      the" rowdiness " you mentioned here that people would keep up after performing their religious duties is common everywhere .what makes me sad and angry sometimes is this that mostly we find people who are utterly religious are hardly nice human being and hardly care about "good and bad" or "right and wrong" concept . It seems that performing their religious duties liberates them from all basic rules for humanity .i saw few from very close who wear religion as cover to hide their horrible sins ,this is shivering ,it is not fault of religion but such bad people who degrade their most pious subject ruthlessly what a shame

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    2. i think rowdiness is fine until it makes others in trouble because our freedom ends where ends our nose right

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  8. Blessings on Ramadan. Beautiful flowers!

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  9. You are very devout to follow the prescription for Ramadan. It's interesting for me to hear about Ramadan from one who practices.

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    1. i used to fast because i loved the "feel" it would bring along ,feeling of being more close to God! everything we would do during Ramadan was all about that it will make God happy with me ,the dizziness and weakness that comes with lack of water and food would add joy to my heart that all i am bearing is for God!

      gradually as i grew old and weaker physically with lots of health issues fasting was impossible for me ,but fortunately until then i was certain that all such religious practices exist to keep us connected with One who is maker of all and reminder that life is not just fun and pleasure but we must be prepare for starvation and misery because we are not in heaven but in place where our next direction will be determined by our current intentions and actions whether here in this world or in afterlife if there is one.


      My point is that with or without such practice we can be honest with ourselves and refine our being as person ,all we need to keep this ultimate reality in mind and live life according to laws of Nature harmlessly

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  10. Your garden is fantastic. The tiger roses seem like that someone was painting them!
    Thank you for writing about your family and the celebration for Ramadan.

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  11. The tradition of Ramadan is making managers of teams that have Muslim players lives very hard, baili.
    My team, Porto, with Zaidu and Taremi, for instance.
    Have a great weekend

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    1. Oh that is heartwarming to hear dear Pedro !

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  12. It was lovely to read of your experiences of Ramadan. Your beautiful garden is a lovely place and looks so calming - a good spiritual place to spend time :)

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  13. thank you dear Betty ,when i sit to write about such memories times run so fast and it is hard to stop when mind is overflowing with so many precious memories which i want to add my online diary :)

    this is grace of dear God that we are able to have this little garden in our front yard ,it is hard to imagine life and house without garden for both of us

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  14. Your courtyard is so serene and beautiful. Thank you for writing about Ramadan. It is so true that our parents (and most often our mothers, I think) who keep up the traditions that become our memories, and that we in turn create those memories for our children. Your sons will always remember the taste of those goodies you make for them to break their fast :)

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    1. Dear Jenny being from restricted area my courtyard is my whole world .the sky above my courtyard is whole universe i exist within and i am so grateful for this as house all around us are closed with no yard at all or hardly little. I always wanted to have house like i lived in back in my native village. Mine yard is half than we had back there but it has all my soul desires the sky ,airy area to walk or sit in winters ,tree and garden a perfect world i like to have around :)

      Mothers are most beautiful gift we have from nature i agree and i don't want to imagine life without having a mother, a shady tree to protect us from scorching sun and provide us with shelter, food and comfort. I had an ideal mother thankfully. In spite of she spent many years away from village she did not seem misfit like modern lady from city who returned after more than decade .she soiled herself inthe cusoms and traditions of small town immediately and became regular part of simple life of village .she adopted and followed all religious and other cultural traditions .she was miraculously survived and well admired by all because she knew how to melt and take shape of new habitate.
      I lack her trait of following all traditions though i have my own way to harmonize. But some years back i was most of like her in these areas of life.

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  15. Admittedly, I know very little of the practice of fasting at Ramadan, so I appreciate that you shared what you did in your childhood and with your family, Baili. The flowers outside your door are lovely and I know you appreciate seeing them before the hot weather returns. I do miss our yard flowers, even though caring for them took some effort.

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    1. This nice to know that you liked my memories about Ramadan dear Dorothy. Each year when Ramadan is here so many beautiful memories belong to childhood and youth sprout up like wild blooms that lead to familiar elegant paths .

      I adore hubby to put so much effort in growing these flowers indeed.he borrow or buy help when he doesn't feel like doing such hard job but like my mom he genuinely loves gardening :)

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  16. "o dia inteiro sem comida e água não era nada além de uma aventura emocionante
    acompanhada de sentimento de paz que fizemos Deus feliz." Acho isso fantástico.
    As suas flores estão tão belas!
    Uma boa semana com muita saúde.
    Um beijo.

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    1. dear Grace one way or other we all believe in divine Creator and try to please him through various practices whether they are religious are we obtain the as character virtues .i believe in later most but yes when i was child such things were source of fun and excitement to me firstly and then way to please our God secondly because i knew little about God introduced by religion particularly though gradually i found Him everywhere and surrender to Him completely and this made my understanding of God introduced by religion deeper and better .
      now i know that all the religious physical practice for to strengthen our Spiritual side but take it as an easy formality and forget about the reason behind it mostly unfortunately . Awaking spiritual side is hard labor but once it is done we are open to reality and try to live harmless life though most of us avoid this labor and dwell on easy way only

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  17. Your Mom sounds like a special lady. You are too. I'm sure your sons will fondly remember the special days and celebrations shared with you. (I'm rather keen on vegetable pakoras and samosas myself).

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    1. my mom was one of the best woman i have ever met dear Belle ,she was poor economically though but rich in character and lush in her soul ,she had love for all without any discrimination ,devotion and honesty and undefeated faith and courage ,she was pillar for my being an di feel so blessed that i had such fine woman as my mom

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    2. i am sure my eldest son has memories of beautiful days we spent together and he will relive them when he is out of this extremely busy phase of his life or when he is old and retired :)

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  18. I enjoyed reading your family stories and memories of Ramadan.

    The flowers in your yard are delightful :-)

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  19. i am glad you enjoyed my simple stories dear Cheri ,such memories become more powerful on special times like Ramadan :)

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  20. Dear Baili, this is such a loving, tender, and gentle posting in which you share your love for Ramadan and for your mother and your sons. And there's so much wisdom here, too, especially when you say that everything is beautiful unless it has lost its balance. I need to think about that and ponder its wisdom. I plan on sharing it with friends. Peace.

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  21. Happy Ramadan, Baili!
    Even though I haven't been by recently, Ramadan and you have been on my mind. I have no doubt that you are creating lasting memories for your sons. Traditions always seem to change a little with each generation.

    I have finally fixed most of my computer problems, and just in time for co-hosting the Insecure Writer's Support Group last Wednesday. I'm catching up on all my comments now that I can reply to comments. I still haven't recovered all my writing documents, but I'm getting there. 😭😱

    I remember that you felt sad about how everyone didn't like the rooster I nicknamed Putin. I finally saw him and captured his picture. I am happy to report that when I left Hawaii, he was doing well. He's very wary and fast and runs from humans. That means he's smarter than a lot of other feral chickens who don't seem worried about people at all. I re-nicknamed him Poutine ~ Thanks to brilliant Debra's suggestion (She Who Seeks). No living thing deserves being called Putin.

    I've been reading "Galileo's Error" by Philip Goff. I understand rocks a whole lot more than philosophy ~ LOL! I've been reading, rereading, and rereading, and googling words and concepts like crazy. It doesn't help that I now have to read wearing an eye patch because my vision keeps getting worse.

    I'm looking forward to working backwards to see what you've said about the book. I really didn't expect to be reading about quantum mechanics and Schrödinger's cat. I'm going to read and reread it until I understand everything. Well, I'm not sure I'll understand the bending of spacetime and gravity, but I'm going to keep at it.

    I have always been a dualist, believing in a physical body, and an immaterial mind/soul; especially after a near death experience I had. I haven't gotten to the final section on panpsychism yet, but I'm very curious about it. I've always thought that whales, and dogs, and primates, and cats, among other living things, have some form of consciousness. You, my friend, are are awesome for tackling such a challenging book! You definitely are more of a philosopher than I am!

    Hugs and love to you!

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  22. it hurts when you call me more philosopher than yourself dear Louise because i no i am nothing but an owner of vivid powerful imagination that i feel is greatest help that i can easily connect dots unconsciously and it makes things easier to me to understand them(probably)
    imagination is most mighty weapon i think because when as whole i see at things ,they look all connected ,i know i avoid the minor details which can look abstract or complex at that point but i am not the one who knows everything ,like all others who come and do their part by saying what they knw about anything i too speak my mind without concerning what it might look like to others ,i have to unveil what my mind has been showing to me with firm belief that it is something and has certain meaning .
    i don't know what i was dualist or panpsychist but yes i knew that i stared at nature because she looked me familiar ,very much close to my being something i can feel ease and healed with . i felt her power enormously and there was and is some really really powerful connection between me and her and i am happy i am on the edge to learn what it is

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