Written by Zahra Hussain
Manama, April. 21 / BNA /: Bahrain embraced Ramadan with enthusiasm for its blessings, customs and traditions with an open heart.
The “Masaher” (Ramadan drummer) is one of the best preserved traditions that always fascinates young and old alike.
“Al-Mashar” is a man who wanders at night through neighborhoods during Ramadan and beats drums to wake people up and alert them to eat suhoor – the pre-dawn meal to aid in fasting throughout the day.
This ancient tradition began during the spread of Islam and evolved over time to include drums, poetry, folk songs and singing, giving each community and country its own uniqueness.
The kingdom has certainly embraced this tradition with a simple disc where people called the night walkers ‘Abu Tubilah’, i.e. a person who has a drum and walks around and calls people to get up.
Children who stay up late wait to watch “Al Mashahar” and join him as they sing in the streets and wake people up.
The drumming is not real business, but people reward the drummer with grain, rice, or money as a token of appreciation.
While every village in Bahrain has practiced this tradition for centuries, the “Mosher” only appears during Ramadan and does not perform his actual duty anymore.
Technology has certainly made it easier for people to set alarms and wake up for a pre-dawn meal.
However, this tradition has survived the challenges of technology and time, reminding people of their important culture and special traditions that are practiced during the holy month.
“Nothing excites us more than hearing the marshal’s voice in the middle of the night with his drum. It really indicates how, as a community, we love to hold on to our traditions and share them with children just as we lived them when we were younger,” said Abdul Latif, a Bahraini grandfather.
What made this tradition special was how each community organized it to suit its own rituals.