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The crowds are back in old Delhi for the first public Ramadan celebration since the Covid-19 pandemic began, and life has returned to its streets
- Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, is under way – the first Indian religious festival being celebrated since Covid-19 restrictions were eased in March
- ‘The return of the crowds is a good sign,’ one kebab seller says. But another says: ‘If you talk about sales, it is not satisfactory at all’
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It is approaching 5pm and the roads around Delhi’s Jama Masjid, one of India’s largest mosques, are packed with people.
Keepers of kiosks and shops that sell clothes, caps, cold drinks or snacks are straightening their wares.
In the mosque’s courtyard, devotees are trying to find space, even though iftar – the breaking of the day-long fast observed by Muslims during Ramadan (a holy month of fasting) – is still 90 minutes away.
Families gather around spreads of food and juices laid out on the ground, waiting for the signal to end their fast. A few pray as children charge around, women chop fruit and youngsters take selfies.
Given the signal – the setting off of two firecrackers followed by a prayer by the Maulvi (priest) – the faithful break their fast, or roza, with dates and water. Having consumed pakora (fritters) and sherbet (flavoured milk or water), the men move to the inner courtyard to offer prayers.
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