maritime activities economy and social customs of the muslims of ...

The Mira) or Mihura) night is considered to be an auspicious night which fall8
on the sixteenth day of the month of Rajab. On this night only, the Angel,
Gabrie1,conveyed his holiness the Prophet Mohamed to the Almighty, mounted on
a booroq. Muslims regard it an important religious occassion and sit all the night
in prayer and reading Quran and in dikir (verses in praise of God). (Booroq is a
celestial animal like a mule with a human face, wings of a peacock with a speed of
burg (lighting) hence named as Booroq). But the prayer connected wlth this celebration
is known to the elite only. The Tamil Muslims observe this night faithfully by
participating in the special prayers .
Ramzan is an important festival to all the Muslims. It is known as Id-dhul-fitr
and celebrated on the first day of the month Shawwal. Ramzan is celebrated in
continuation of the fast for thirty days during the previous month. On the day, the
Muslims congregate for the special prayer in a maidan (idhgah maidan) of the town.
Before going to the prayer they distribute the fitra and alms to the poor. It is
compulsory on the part of every Muslim to distribute the fitra - a fixed quantity of
grain, or the cost of it - to the poor before the special prayer. It Is intended the poor
feel secure and happy. Almost all the Muslims distribute the zakath amount to the
poor and needy prior to this festival, thus making the poor fellow beings to feel
happy and hence it can be called as a social festival.
On the day of Ramzan celebration the Muslims take bath apply soorma
(galena) to the eyebrows, wear new clothes. decorate the body with perfumes and
fragrance and merrily walk to the prayer. After the prayer, when they reach their
house the women take arathi and it is waved round the heads of the male members
and thrown in the street. Delicious foods are prepared , usually non-vegetarian.
Friends and relatives are entertained with feast.
Baqr-eed or Eed-ool-Zoha is another important festival which is celebrated on
the tenth day of the month Baqreed or Zilhujja. Pilgrimage to Mecca takes place
during this season. During this festival the opulent among the Musllrns offer quorbanee,