#RAMADAN2018

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Well... I wasn't expecting this! Arriving in Bahrain during Ramadan was an experience I will never forget.

What is Ramadan if you may ask? Ramadan is an Islamic religious holiday that occurs during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and lasts to about 29 to 30 days. They refrain from eating, drinking and smoking from sunrise to sunset.

They have a prefast which is called suhoor. After the sun sets, the fast is broken with the post-fast meal called iftar. That's when they party and have brunches that last up to four hours with all the food that you could consume.From what I experienced, Ramadan is celebrated by the majority of the population in Bahrain and I had to abide by the same requirements as they did although I wasn't fasting.

During Eid, the three-day celebration after Ramadan, we went to the Al Fateh Grand Mosque for a tour. Before entering the mosque, women had to change into a full-length robe with a hijab(as seen in the photo above). Our tour guide shared information about the Mosque and gave us an insight on Islam.

Ramadan has given me a first-hand insight into another branch of religion. I appreciate everything I've learned so far and hope to gain more information with the remaining time I have here in Bahrain.

Fun fact, Muslims pray five times a day for five to ten minutes and building the Al Fateh Grand Mosque(as seen in the photo below) cost more than $100,000.