Mosques In Bangkok Adorned With Lights And Quranic Verses To Welcome Ramadan

By Tuwaedaniya Meringing & Kenny Teng

BANGKOK, Feb 28 (Bernama) -- As Ramadan approaches, mosques across the Land of the White Elephant are being decorated with Quranic verses and colourful lights.

A Bernama survey at Darul Aman Mosque, located in the heart of Bangkok, found that the mosque was decorated with Quranic inscriptions, crescent and star-shaped lights to attract Muslims from both within and outside the country for communal iftar.

The Grand Imam of Darul Aman Mosque, Imam Farooq Haji Kasim, said that the Ramadan atmosphere in Bangkok is just as lively as in Southern Thailand and Malaysia.

"Approximately 300 to 400 visitors from both local and international communities, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Arab countries, are expected to gather for iftar at the mosque throughout Ramadan.

"The mosque has also prepared iftar meals, with expenses reaching nearly 1 million Baht for the entire month of Ramadan," he told Bernama when met at the mosque recently.

Farooq stated that for Muslims in Thailand, especially in Bangkok, fasting is not a challenge as iftar meals are easily available around the mosque area.

"Every year, people of various ethnicities also enjoy breaking fast together with their Muslim friends due to the diverse dishes offered, as well as the Ramadan bazaar near the mosque," he said.

Ramadan is a sacred month for Muslims, requiring them to fast, pray, uphold good morals, and show compassion towards the less fortunate.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Sheikhul Islam of Thailand has set the date for moon sighting on the evening of February 28.

-- BERNAMA