Traditional cannon fire across Bahrain will herald the beginning of Ramadan.
An Interior Ministry official confirmed yesterday that cannons will be set up at four locations – Arad Fort in Muharraq, Bahrain Fort in Karbabad, Abu Subh beach in Duraz and Eid prayer area in Hunainiya Valley, Riffa.
Cannons will be fired daily during the holy month to signal the beginning and the end of the fasting period.
People can visit the four locations to witness the spectacle which will also be broadcast live on Bahrain Television.
The tradition has become a popular event with hordes of families visiting the sites every day.
In view of this, additional patrols will be deployed, particularly to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.
Some historians believe the custom of firing the Ramadan cannon dates back as far as 10th century Egypt, when one of the Fatimid caliphs ordered a cannon be placed on Cairo’s Muqatam Hill so all Muslims would hear the signal to break their fasts.
During Ramadan, Muslims are supposed to abstain from food, drink, sex and smoking during daylight hours to cleanse their bodies and minds, bringing them closer to God.
Anyone caught eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight faces arrest and prosecution – with sentences of up to a year in jail and BD100 fines.
Muslims residing in Oslo, Norway will be fasting the longest for a total of about 13 hours and 51 minutes.
Meanwhile, Industry and Commerce Minister Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro continued to visit different hypermarkets and retail outlets, where he was briefed on the Ramadan preparations and availability of food and other essentials.
The minister stressed the importance of maintaining price stability during the month, noting that the ministry will continue to monitor markets and take all necessary measures to control prices and provide goods at reasonable prices.
The GDN earlier reported that a total of 212 merchants have signed and vowed not to increase the price of products during Ramadan.
Meanwhile, the Sunni Endowments Directorate has announced the temporary designation of 32 mosques across the four governorates where Friday prayers will be held during Ramadan.
Muharraq Governorate: Adel Ahmadi Mosque, East Hidd; Haya bint Mohammed Al Bouflasa Mosque, Hidd; Aysha Al Rasheed Mosque, Diyar Al Muharraq; Umhat Al Momineen Mosque and Osama bin Zaid Mosque in Arad; Ali bin Yousif Fakhro Mosque, Halat Bu Maher; Al Bin Khater Mosque, Ali bin Ebrahim Al Zayani Mosque, Omar bin Abdulaziz Mosque, Southern Busaiteen Mosque, Hessa bint Khalifa Al Ammari Mosque and Shaikha bint Abdulrahman Mosque in Busaiteen.
Southern Governorate: Al Ikhlas Mosque, Isa Town; East Riffa - Badriya Jaafar Al Murbati Mosque, Essa bin Essa Mosque, Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa Mosque, Shaikh Khalifa bin Mohammed bin Salman Al Khalifa Mosque, Bukuwara Mosque, Al Bayan Mosque, Abi Abdullah Salman Al Farsi Mosque, Al Muhajireen Mosque, Al Hajiyat, Hunain Mosque, and Amr bin Al Aas Mosque in East Riffa and Mariam Mosque, North Riffa.
Northern Governorate (Hamad Town): Al Dowaisan Mosque, Roundabout 1; Imam Muslim bin Al Hajjaj Mosque, Roundabout 2; Al Aziz Mosque, Roundabout 5; Abdul Rahman bin Ouf Mosque, Roundabout 10; Abu Ayyub Al Ansari Mosque and Asma That Al Netaqain Mosque and Hamza bin Abdul Mutalib Mosque, located in Roundabout 21.
Capital Governorate: Saad bin Abi Waqas Mosque, Um Al Hassam.
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