How do people celebrate Ramadan in Bangkok?

The month of Ramadan has begun, so we asked four Muslims in Bangkok how they celebrate during this holy month.

One of the Five Pillars of Islam is to fast during the month of Ramadan during daylight hours. According to the religion, this month is the period when the gates of Heaven remain open, and the gates of Hell are shut, as the Qur’an was sent down to the lowest heaven for the month. The fast ends at the end of the day with a festive meal and a prayer.

The last 10 days of Ramadan are considered the most significant days, signalling when the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims fast during the day, while reciting prayers and tightening their self-discipline during the night.

How do people celebrate Ramadan in Bangkok?

Breaking fast

After spending the day fasting, Muslims break fast with a nightly feast called “iftar.” While it is traditionally done by a gathering of families and sharing a meal together, it is also now common to visit halal restaurants and getting a nightly feast there. After all, Bangkok is full of halal restaurants worthy of checking out.

Below, we asked five Muslims in Bangkok about their special rituals during the holy month of Ramadan in Bangkok.

How to observe Ramadan, according to Muslims in Bangkok

It’s not easy in Bangkok

In our religion, we fast throughout the holy month. Bangkok is harder because there are more entertainment venues and great food throughout the city, so I’d say there’s more temptation you need to resist before you can break fast. If you live in Pattaya, for example, you can sit on the beach and be surrounded by nature; wait till the sun sets.
But Bangkok has also become increasingly accommodating towards Muslims during Ramadan, as there are more halal restaurants opening up which encourages the practice, as well as give us more sense of community.
Last ten days are the most sacred. We perform the i’tikaf (seclusion) at the mosque, where we spend time reflecting and away from worldly affairs.

– Yakup Tangsongsirisak, Chef and Owner of Fat Lamb

It’s about good intentions

To me, Ramadan is more than celebration. It is the act of good intention, and how we will be spiritually embraced by Ramadan instead. As you may know, in Islam Ramadan is the holy month, the greatest month among all. Therefore, to me, Ramadan will be a chance to refresh my mind and soul through worship and self restriction.
Ramadan goes beyond fasting but it restrains people to limit their needs, eagerness, anger, and even lust. Since all demons (shaytan) will be chained, therefore, if you commit sins, it’s not even demon who lured you. By all means, this month is the greatest chance to pray more than five times a day, but also pray on Ramadan night (Taraweeh) which is limited to only this holy month, and, of course, reciting Al-Quran, and study those meanings. To not dive any deeper, the best way to start Ramadan is simple set your intention to do it better than last Ramadan, because you never know which Ramadan will be your ‘last’.
Spending Ramadan in Bangkok is not different from other cities across the world since we practice after the same prophet and obey under the same lord. Therefore, we wake up to eat Suhoor (early morning meal) and break fast during Iftar (nightly feast). Other practice like taraweeh pray and Al-Quran recitation are surely similarly preached.

– Nutsara Manutsanun Mudnuch, Marketing Coordinator

It’s about family and food comas

Normally it’s super simple: you’d go to the mosque and that’s where you’d do your prayers and break your fast as well. The alternative is what my cousins do, is they invite people to their house to break fast and share a meal. It’s a very wholesome type of situation. My cousins invite me every year to join them for a Ramadan dinner which tends to be a food-coma-level meal because of the variety of dishes, but also it tends to be heavy food.

– Imzo, Creative, Independence Bar

Everyone has their own approach

I’m Islamic, but my family and I aren’t very religious, so when my family doesn’t celebrate it, I don’t either. I don’t wear a hijab, nor adhere strictly to a halal diet. However, we do recognise and are very understanding of those who do.

– Anonymous, Independent Tutor

Making merit and eating dates

This month is the prime period to make merit. Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad once taught that the ones who fast for Allah for one day translates to them being far from the flames of Hell for seven years. It’s celebrated by big family gatherings at the dinner table after sundown, having feasts together and seeing each others’ faces.
Muslims generally eat date palms before going onto other dishes, as it was what the prophets ate after fasting. We also perform another prayer in addition to our five daily ones.

– Anawil Chalamvaree, Digital Consultant