Night of power and time for contemplation

KK Moidu
The Holy Month of Ramadan is now in its last ten days and mosques all over the UAE are packed with believers, who taking part in special prayers and duas (supplications).
Although the whole month is full of blessings and rewards, the last ten days have a special status. Worshippers make long, sincere and deep duas during the last part of the odd nights, seeking forgiveness of their Creator.
Muslims, people of the world's fastest growing religion, offer more prayers in the last ten days of Ramadan than at any other part of Ramadan. It was common for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to pray the whole night during Ramadan. His family members profusely offered the night prayers.
Like Muslims all over the world, people in the UAE are also taking part in special prayers as Ramadan is drawing to a close. They seek Lailat Al Qadr (the Night of Power) on the last days of the Ramadan.
Lailat Al Qadr is better than 1,000 months (83 years and four months) and according to a tradition of the Prophet (PBUH), it falls on an odd-numbered night during the last ten days of Ramadan.
A majority of Muslims believe that the Holy Night falls on 27th of Ramadan.
Allah first revealed the Holy Quran to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on this night. Therefore, praying, reading Quran and remembering Allah abundantly on Lailat Al Qadr is advisable.
Doing special duas for forgiveness on the night of Lailat Al Qadr, making prayers longer, deeper and more meaningful by reciting big Surahs is also important. Another important ritual in the last ten days of Ramadan is Itikaf.
People stay in mosques, which is Allah's House, with the intention of becoming closer to Him by offering salat and reciting Quran. During the Itikaf period, going outside the mosque, except in case of emergency, is discouraged. Therefore the worshipper stays in the masjid.
However, it is not compulsory that Itikaf should be offered for ten days together. Worshippers can undertake Itikaf of shorter periods also -- one night or a day, or for a couple of days or nights.
This was the practice of the Prophet (PBUH), especially during the last ten days of Ramadan. The Sunnah (sayings and traditions of the Prophet) of the Prophet (PBUH), of Itikaf has no specific time limit.
Believers can stay in mosques with the intention of making Itikaf for a longer or shorter period of time. But ultimately the reward will be according to how long one stays in the mosque.

Parks get more entertaining during Ramadan

BY KK Moidu


THE arrival of the Holy Month of Ramadan and the end of summer season is attracting more visitors to parks. Parks like Al Majaz, Al Jazeera, Itihad etc. in Sharjah are fully crowded with families, especially during weekends. People, spending leisure time with kids and other family members in the parks, have increased in Ramadan because of the less working hours. The variety of entertainment programmes in the parks and other areas like Al Buhaira Corniche, Al Qasba etc. as a part of Sharjah Ramadan Festival is a new experience for the visitors.
Sharjah Ramadan Festival started on the first day of Ramadan is organised by Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has arranged variety of surprise for the visitors. The beautifications, additional lights on the lamp posts, big banners and cut out make the parks more beautiful in the night.
Parks in the emirate also have special Ramadan programmes, especially for children and installed new playing equipments. The kids are enjoying different kinds of games and rides in the parks and family sits and talks on the benches and green lawns.
The Mini Train service at Al Buhaira Corniche is one of the main attractions of the people. Many families enjoy the beauty of corniche by a train journey and watch the Ramadan programme. The train with three boggies and an engine are encaged in service and some families book a full compartment for privacy.
Families are coming to the park with preparations of a picnic by carrying blankets, foods, juices and enjoys themselves underneath the cool shade of trees. They spend their time by participating in games along with children, discussing serious issues of international politics and also sharing jokes.
Some families are also using the parks as a venue for get-together. Jamal Babu, a visitor at Corniche Park Sharjah said, "we came to the park with food, juice and water. We break our fast and stay here for a long time. Instead of arranging an Iftar party at home or hotel, it is very convenient and economical. All of us prepare food from our home and eat in the park together. The main advantage of the get-together in park is the kids to get more freedom and can enjoy being engaged in differnet activities." During the Ramadan weekends, our family groups are joining in different parks for Iftar party and stay here until late night, says Jamal.
The families were spending their free time earlier in shopping malls. Muhammed Ashraf, father of two and a regular visitor at Al Majaz park in Ramadan said, "visiting parks are better than going to the shopping malls. A visit to a shopping mall will definitely harm the pocket because each and everything is charged in malls". Parks of the emirates are not only beautiful but also neat and clean and are fully maintained by the local authorities. A visit to the park is a best way to entertain the entire family and everybody wants to control their expense in the circumstances of increased cost of living. This is another reason for increasing the number of visitors in parks.

Renovation closing leaves Rolla Park deserted

KK Moidu

THE closing of the always-crowded Rolla Park for renovation has left the place deserted, especially during Ramadan. This popular landscape has been one of the favourite places for the public during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
The Ramadan fair at the park used to be the main attraction for the crowds in the evenings. It used to look brilliant in the nights with the colourful illumination of the area.
The area not only provided entertainment but also allowed the visitors to buy everything at a discounted price. The Asian Village at the park was the prior choice of people for shopping.
The commercially vibrant area filled with shops, exchanges, hotels, etc. becomes more active in Ramadan days with extra shops built at the park during Ramadan. Now the crowds are very less compared to yesteryears during this season and it is also affecting the business, says shop owners.
Rolla Park was known as a favourite meeting point for expatriate labourers and other low-income group from all over the UAE. People working in other emirates come to the park on Friday evenings to meet their friends and relatives. They enjoy the evening with their relatives and friends discussing every matters under the Sun, sharing good food and a small shopping before returning home late night.
These get-togethers make the surrounding cafeterias, money exchanges, electronic shops, cargo, saloons etc busy until midnight.
But now closing of the park for renovation has stopped these people from coming to the area.
Although residents in the surroundings were disturbed by the shopping and socialising of these crowds on weekends, they also agree that the closing of the park has made Rolla "life-less," especially during Ramadan.

Asianet TV airs Onam Programme

KK Moidu
Asianet TV channel has started airing a two weeks special Onam programme with an entertaining bouquet of interviews, films, special programmes and music based shows. The mind-blowing programme was started on September 2 and will continue till September 14.
On the Uthradam day on September 11, the channel will show two superhit films Classmates and Prajapathi. The other attraction of the day is Navya Nair's Navyame Sallapam. The other programme is Special Athithi, in which actress Kalpana visits poor homes with Onam gifts in this film. The other programmes of the day are Musical Chat Show (Super Star Mohan Lal with Idea Star Singers 2007) and mega stage show Ponnonam 2008, an event with full of dance, songs, skit and celebrity performance to be held at Dubai Al Nasr Leisureland for celebrating the 30 years of Superstar Mohanlal in silver screen.
The Thiruvonam day on September 12, starts with an interview with Meera Jasmine. The superhit films to be aired on that day are Keerthi Chakra, Balram vs Tharadas and Anachantham. Other special Onam programmes of the day are Onam with Kalabhavan Mani, the comedy skit by Cinemala Team, a humorous skit Onathinidayil Putuukachavadam by leading comedy/mimicry artistes of Malayalam cinema along with the second part of mega stage show Ponnonam 2008. Besides there will be an interview with Megastar Mammootty on that day.
On the third of Onam, on September 13, Dilip starrer Chess and Mammootty starrer Thuruppugulan will be screened. Interviews with Namitha and Kadhal fame Sandhya and a musical fusion with famous keyboard player Stephan Devasy Me Music Magic are the other attractions. A comedy talk show hosted by Kalpana with leading comedy artistes will telecast on the day.
On the last Onam day on September 14, the Asianet TV channel will air Jagathiyile Abmilikkala, a free wheeling chat show with leading comedy character artiste Jagathy Sreekumar. Mohanlal and Laila starrer Mahasamudram will be also premiered on that day. An interview with national award winning actress Priyamani Angeekarathinte Niravil and Sasneham with the laughing beauty Sneha will definitely grab the audience. The mega stage show Onanilavu 2008 features leading contestants of Idea Star Singer 2007 and musical fusion Me Music Magic are the other programmes to be aired on the day.
Asianet News Channel will also air special programmes for the harvest festival. Besides there will be Onam celebrations in different regions of Kerala.
Asianet Plus Onam interview with leading heroines like Meena, Sona, Mohini, Rasika etc are the highlight of the programme menu. The bouquet of programmes include comedy shows Onam de Pinneyum Vannu, music programme Pranamam, Sundarikalude Onam, 300th day celebrations of programme Crazy TV and many more.