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Iftar cannon to drummers at dawn, 7 unique Ramadan traditions around the world
Besides the tradional prayer and fasting, the holy month is marked in varied ways across countries, shaped by local cultures and traditions
- PUBLISHED: Sun 8 Feb 2026, 10:00 AM
Ramadan, considered the most-awaited month on the Islamic lunar calendar, is observed as a period of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. While some of the core practices — fasting from dawn to sunset, prayers and acts of charity — are common across cultures, the ways Ramadan is experienced can vary from country to country.
From firing the iftar cannon to lighting the 'fanous', this month has many striking traditions followed by different regions. Local cultures, histories, and customs shape distinctive practices that make Ramadan a richly diverse global observance.
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Let's take a look at some of the unique Ramadan rituals observed across countries:
1. Iftar cannon: This is a long-standing Ramadan tradition that is said to have originated in Egypt. Each evening at sunset, coinciding with the Maghrib call to prayer, a single cannon shot is fired to signal the beginning of iftar.
Before the advent of clocks and loudspeakers, the iftar cannon served as a public announcement, allowing communities to break their fast simultaneously.
The tradition is followed to this day in several countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain.
2. Colourful lanterns: The 'fanous' is a traditional Egyptian lantern used to decorate streets and homes during the month of Ramadan. Originating in Egypt, it later spread across the Muslim world and has become one of the most recognizable symbols associated with the holy month. These lanterns can be found in homes, restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, and public spaces.
3. Drummers at dawn: The custom of drummers waking people for suhoor, the pre-dawn meal before fasting, is a centuries-old Ramadan tradition. Known as the mesaharati in Arab countries, davulcu in Turkey, or seheriwala in India, the drummer walks through neighbourhoods before dawn, beating a drum and chanting rhythmic calls.
Drummers often wear traditional attire, sometimes inspired by the Ottoman style. In Indondesia, the ‘bedug’ drum is used to to wake people up for suhoor and also to mark the time to break the fast.
4. Town crier: Besides drummers, another entity acts as the suhoor wake-up call in some countries. Called the Nafar in Morrocoo, the town crier is a traditional figure in many Muslim communities, historically responsible for making public announcements related to the holy month. Long before modern communication, the town crier would walk through neighbourhoods, calling out important messages such as the start of fasting, reminders for suhoor, prayer times, or community notices.
In some regions, the role overlapped with that of the mesaharati, who used drums or chants to wake residents for the pre-dawn meal.
5. Hag Al Leila: A traditional Emirati celebration observed in the days leading up to Ramadan, emphasizing generosity and community spirit. Children wear traditional attire and go from door to door, singing familiar rhymes while collecting sweets and treats from neighbours. The act of distributing sweets and nuts teaches children the value of giving without expectation.
Hag Al Laila falls on the Hijri date of the 15th of Shabaan, serving as a 15-day countdown to Ramadan.
6. Remembering ancestors, communal bathing: Several traditions in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, give Ramadan a distinctive character. One of the most popular practices is 'ngabuburit', a term used to describe activities done in the late afternoon while waiting for sunset. People gather with friends and family, stroll through parks, attend religious talks, or visit food stalls, turning the hours before iftar into a social and festive time.
In some areas, especially in Java, children and youth participate in 'takbiran' processions toward the end of Ramadan, walking through streets while chanting praises of God and carrying lanterns or decorative displays.
They also have 'nyadran', a tradition of visiting ancestral graves performed before the month of Ramadan. In Jakarta, especially among communities with Javanese cultural roots, this tradition is carried out as an act of respect for ancestors.
Another enduring tradition is the 'padusan', traditionally performed a day or two before the first day of fasting, which involves bathing in natural springs, rivers, or communal water sources believed to carry a sense of purity and serenity.
7. Chand Raat: Meaning 'Night of the Moon', it is a South Asian cultural celebration on the eve of Eid al-Fitr. It marks the sighting of the new moon that signals the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal.
In countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladhesh, people gather in open spaces to look for the moon and wish each other Eid Mubarak once it is sighted. Women apply mehndi (henna), homes prepare sweets for Eid, and people head out for last-minute shopping. Streets wear a festive look in preparation for Eid al-Fitr the next day.
Ramadan traditions may vary across cultures, but their core values remain the same. From lantern-lit streets in Cairo to bustling night street-food hubs in Java, Ramadan unites Muslims worldwide while celebrating cultural diversity.
