TEHRAN, April 25 (Xinhua) -- "While you are banned from attending mosques and shrines for Ramadan rituals during the lockdown, there is a silver lining," said a young couple to Xinhua on the first day of Ramadan in Iran.
Traditionally, during the holy month of Ramadan, Iftar (fast breaking) meals are served after the worshippers say their evening prayers and recite verses of the holy Quran at home in family reunions or mosques at communal gatherings.
The mosques have been the locus of enriching spiritual life for the Iranian Muslims, particularly in Ramadan, all over the country, a cultural practice that dates back to hundreds of years ago.
Alternatively, holy shrines, including the most important Imam Reza's Holy Shrine in northeastern Mashhad city and Shrine of Hazrat Masumeh in central Qom city, used to host thousands of fasting people for Iftar banquet every evening during Ramadan.
However, the pandemic this year has forced the authorities to close such religious sites.
On Saturday, which marks the start of Ramadan for the Iranians, Amir Ali and Somayeh, the couple, prepared for their Iftar rituals in their rented apartment in downtown capital Tehran.
For them, isolation is the antithesis of Ramadan, which is about charity, outdoor meal donations, and communal Iftar banquets with family and friends. But, this Ramadan is quite different without festive meals with family and friends nor congregational prayers.
The Iranian authorities have urged people to practice religious prayers individually or with family at home this year.
"Despite the coercive measures under this disease, every cloud has a silver lining," said Amir Ali.
"As we practice social distancing during this time of pandemic, we are sadly not free to touch the air of spirituality within the holy and sacred places," he said.
He said the officials and non-governmental organizations have made efforts to fill the vacuum and compensate for the lacks that people may experience in the absence of long-standing traditional culture.
With the programs of TV stations and ample virtual products, people can make a spiritual journey in the holy month, Somayeh said as she prepared her simple Iftar table following Iranians' style.
"TV stations and virtual reality are providing worshipers and prayers with a digital window into Ramadan ceremonies," she said.
"There are apps, including Instagram, which offer 3D modelings of virtual participation in the holy shrines. The viewer can experience the spiritual tour, walking through the holy shrines or the Tawaf rituals (going around the sacred symbol)," she said.
After prayers, "we will start with dates and a cup of tea, for my husband, and hot water, for me," Somayeh said. "If it was normal time (not under lockdown), we would have visited our parents on the first day of Ramadan and had a bit extended meal."
As her husband put the kettle on the stove to boil, she began to set the table: a book of Holy Quran and a version of prayers on the table; and then plates of dates and cheese added by pieces of bread baked in the confectionaries special for Ramadan.
Over the 30-day month, Muslims fast during the daylight hours, abstaining from food and water. They also try to practice charity as a spiritual journey to burn away sin with good deeds.
"We have decided to do something good for the people in need. For the first time in Ramadan, we will donate blood to coronavirus patients and encourage our friends to do so," Amir Ali said before he started using smartphone for online Ramadan prayers. Enditem
