Decades-old Sehri tradition fading away

A 150-year-old tradition in the subcontinent of waking people up for Sehri during the holy month of Ramazan by banging empty tin cans and drums is now gradually fading away in the country. In its place, social media and telephone alerts have taken over.

A century ago, the practice of waking people up before Sehri by banging tin cans and drums at the doors of houses and streets seemed effective, but now, after scientific advancements, if drums are beaten near houses or streets even an hour before Sehri, people, who fast, now get upset and irritated.

Every Muslim country has its own method of waking people up for Sehri. When fasting was made obligatory in the 2nd Hijrah year, Hazrat Bilal bin Rabah (RA) would roam the streets of Madinah, calling out in his beautiful voice to wake people for Sehri. A few years later, more companions of the Prophet (SAW), young people and children, joined him. Within a few years, this practice spread to Makkah and then to all Islamic states.

In the early days of Islam, since there were no loudspeakers, mosque imams would light red lanterns or lamps on the minarets, chimney tops, or high places two hours before Sehri. The Muslims would wake up upon seeing the light. Around one and a half centuries ago in the subcontinent, Muslims began using large empty tin cans to wake people up for Sehri.

Soon after, drums were added to the practice, and the rhythmic beating of the tin cans and drums would announce, "Rozedaro utho Sehri ka waqt ho gia ha" (Rise, O fasting ones, it is time for Sehri). People would wake up upon hearing it.

After the creation of Pakistan, this tradition continued, and groups also started roaming the streets reciting naat to wake people up.

However, this practice has now completely vanished. The beginning of the new century in 2001 marked the gradual end of this custom. Occasionally, a drum can be heard in some streets during Sehri time, but now, it is met with harsh words from the fasting people.

In today's Ramazan, the tradition of going to bed at night is almost extinct. In most homes, people stay awake until Sehri, and children can be seen playing cricket on the streets until Sehri time. The practice of sleeping after Sehri is now on the rise. Mosques used to announce "It's time for Sehri " and also sound sirens to wake people up, and these sirens are still used for Sehri and iftar times.

In Pakistan, the practice of waking people up with drums during Sehri turned into a business. After waking people for a month, people would collect "Eidi" (gifts) on the day of Eidul Fitr from all over the city, which would include cash, flour, sugar, wheat, and rice as offerings from the people.

Abdul Shakoor, a 41-year-old man in Rawalpindi who still wakes people up with drums, says his grandfather, father, uncle, and other relatives had been doing this since before his birth. "We've been doing this since the creation of Pakistan," he said. However, this practice is now near its end because people get upset if drums are played in some streets. Moreover, they no longer give gifts on Eid. Despite this, Abdul Shakoor has been continuing the family business out of necessity and as a means of earning spiritual reward.