Ramadan Lantern – Shared Iftars and Social Atmosphere… What is Ramazan Krikar?
The month of Ramadan in Afghanistan is a significant occasion observed by the country’s 38 million residents, with traditions passed down for generations—some remaining unchanged for hundreds of years.
Preparing for Ramadan
As the holy month approaches, wealthier families often refurbish their homes, replacing furniture, curtains, and carpets or at least refreshing household essentials. Meanwhile, poorer families focus on deep cleaning their homes in preparation for the sacred month.
Social Traditions and Community Iftars
Ramadan in Afghanistan is marked by unique social activities, the most prominent being daily communal iftars in mosques, where people from all walks of life—not just the poor—gather to break their fast together. Unlike in many Middle Eastern countries, Afghan communal iftars follow a different tradition: each participant brings whatever food they can share, contributing to a collective meal for the entire community.
What is Ramazan Krikar?
Unlike most Muslim-majority countries, where drummers or town criers wake people for suhoor, in Afghanistan, this responsibility often falls on children. This tradition, known as “Ramazan Krikar”, has gradually faded due to security concerns but is still practiced in working-class neighborhoods.
During Ramazan Krikar, children gather before suhoor, playing music, singing Ramadan chants, and knocking on doors to remind people that suhoor time is approaching.
