Ramadan will not be a muted occasion as it was the last two years for Muslims in Turkey.
The Islamic holy month, which will begin on Saturday, was less of a spectacle and more of a solemn period for millions in the country as it battled the coronavirus pandemic.
The traditions and rituals associated with the month of fasting from before the pandemic will largely return after being scaled back in recent years. As the number of coronavirus cases has decreased to as low as around 10,000, Turks can go back to celebrating both the holiday at the end of Ramadan and carrying out daily traditions the old way, except with the ubiquitous presence of protective masks.
Probably the most significant change will be the full opening of mosques for the collective Tarawih prayer. Ali Erbaş, head of the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), announced at a press conference outlining the body’s activities during the holy month on Tuesday that the Tarawih, a voluntary prayer exclusive to Ramadan evenings, will be performed again at mosques and social distancing will not be required. The first Tarawih prayer will be performed on Friday night, before Muslims start fasting in the early hours of Saturday.
Collective prayers were the victim of coronavirus restrictions in the early days of the pandemic before Turkey reopened mosques under the condition the congregation upheld strict social distancing rules. It was only in late 2021 when authorities lifted the social distancing rule at mosques. Wearing protective masks and adherence to hygiene requirements are still mandatory at mosques.
Erbaş hailed the lifting of restrictions and expressed his pleasure to be marking Ramadan “together” with Tarawih, sahur and iftar – the predawn meal that precedes the daily fast and the meal consumed to conclude the fast, respectively. Most cities and towns would host mass sahur and iftar meals in past Ramadans but this tradition was scrapped last year. This year, mass gatherings will be permitted and restaurants, for the first time, will be allowed to host customers for sahur and iftar without any restrictions except mandatory masks.
