Thaindian News

Srinagar, Aug 4 (IANS) Like other devout Muslims, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his father, union New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah, have been keeping the mandatory dawn to dusk fast during the holy month of Ramzan.

“Day 3 of waking up for Sahri. This is getting easier now. The first 2 days were tough & no coffee was the toughest part of the day,” Omar tweeted Thursday.

Sahri is the pre-dawn meal the Muslims take before starting the daylong fasting.

For the coffee-loving Omar Abdullah, the most difficult part is skipping his cup of hot coffee, which he is known to partake as frequently as possible throughout the day.

The sahri period ends around 4 a.m. in the valley which means after that there is no eating and no drinking, not even a sip of water, till the iftaar (breaking of fast) at 7.32 p.m.

Farooq Abdullah has also been keeping fast regularly ever since the month of Ramadan started.

“Dr. Abdullah always keeps fast during the month of Ramzan. He also attends the ‘Taravi Prayers’ (special prayers on the first 10 days of Ramzan) in the evenings at the local Syed Yaqoub Sahib mosque near his residence in Gupkar road,” said sources close to the elder Abdullah.

“It is very difficult for elderly people to offer the Taravi prayers especially as these are to be offered after the day’s exhaustion due to fatigue and fasting”, said Manzoor Ahmad, 53, a bank officer here.

Since the difference between the dawn and the dusk in the valley is more than 15 hours these days, local Muslims have to go without any kind for eating for a long period.

The fasting and regular prayers are a lesser-known side of the otherwise flamboyant elder Abdullah. But people close to him say he was regular in his religious observances.

“He would always fast ever since I have known him, being part of his personal security for many years,” said a retired police officer here.