Rabat - The
muezzin called for the evening prayer on the first night of Ramadan in Morocco, and the crowds of worshipers rushed to respond to the call.
Scenes that Moroccans longed for after parting, the worshipers rejoiced at the return of the atmosphere, so all mosques were filled, rows were lined up, palms were raised to the Lord of heaven, eyes flashed with hope and throats cried out.
After two consecutive years of the epidemic preventing Moroccans from exchanging banquets and visits, and performing Tarawih in mosques and chapels, the manifestations of vitality returned to night activities in Ramadan.
On the first day of Ramadan in Morocco, there is great joy in the return of Tarawih prayers in mosques (Al-Jazeera)
Tarawih first
The first scenes of the revival of the Ramadan nights in Morocco began with the performance of Tarawih from all over the country.
Some mosques in the capital, Rabat, witnessed overcrowding as usual before the pandemic.
Local news websites worked on direct transmission of the Tarawih return;
Where some mosques witnessed a wide turnout.
From the city of Oujda (eastern Morocco), journalist Mohamed Al-Shalay told Al Jazeera Net, "The dynamic of Ramadan nights has returned to a very normal way. And Corona has become a thing of the past, we are back, thank God, to the time before Corona."
And from Tetouan (northern Morocco), journalist Adel Al-Tato told Al Jazeera Net, "There is a great demand for Tarawih prayers, especially among readers with special recitation, and mosques are full in all prayers."
Adel posted on his Facebook page a tradition well known in the city of Tetouan, which is the sound of the flute, or what is known as "Gheitah", from above the silos after the end of Tarawih prayers.
Adel explains to Al Jazeera Net that this is an Andalusian tradition that has been preserved by the scientific councils, and specific mosques are selected for this purpose.
From the city of Salé, adjacent to the capital, Rabat, which had one of the largest chapels, Ibtisam yearns for its distinct atmosphere, and tells Al Jazeera Net, "After closing the Great Chapel in Salé, the atmosphere seems somewhat different."
She added, "But the scene in mosques is majestic, joy in the faces of people, young children wearing traditional clothes and young girls with headscarves to perform prayer, and this is a beautiful thing that we had missed."
The turnout of people to mosques increases a lot during Ramadan nights (Al-Jazeera)
The joy of meeting
Khalil (30 years old), an expatriate residing in a foreign country, used to fit his annual vacation with Ramadan to return to Morocco, but the pandemic and closure prevented him from doing so for two consecutive years.
Khalil's joy was great that he was able to spend Ramadan with his family this year, and he returned to him and them the warmth of the gathering they were accustomed to every Ramadan.
"N-T" Khalil's relative - who is a mother of two children who lives in an extended family - told Al Jazeera Net, "Khalil cried of joy when he returned, and, thank God, this year we were able to share the atmosphere of Ramadan together, there was joy, and we shared the preparation for Ramadan."
Many Moroccans living abroad prefer to spend Ramadan in Morocco, and you find them matching their holidays with it, due to the customs and traditions of the holy month.
During Ramadan, Moroccans keep visiting and sharing the breakfast table, and they are keen to exchange invitations alternately in some families.
Some families renovate table sets, salon mattresses and curtains, or at least clean them in preparation for receiving guests at the breakfast table.
A cafe in the Yaqoub Al-Mansour neighborhood in Rabat on the first night of the current month of Ramadan (Al Jazeera)
Cafés have a movement barometer during the night of Ramadan
The precautionary measures associated with the epidemic had lost the nights of Ramadan of their usual movement in Morocco, as the month witnesses an intensification of various activities from shows in theaters, seminars and lectures, and according to the announcements of the seminars and activities, it is expected a gradual joint return between the attendees and the virtual, since digital activities entered within the cultural behavior of citizens.
"The first week witnesses the gradual return of cultural activities to their previous era, and the second half of Ramadan is expected to witness an increase in the periodicity and dynamism of activities, including football leagues and cultural, intellectual and artistic evenings," said Adel Al-Tato.
Cafes, restaurants and public squares remain an open field indicating the return of life to Ramadan nights in Morocco, and according to a preliminary monitoring conducted by Al Jazeera Net on the first day of Ramadan, the cafes represented a barometer measuring the return of movement during the night of Ramadan, as cafes witnessed a turnout.
Some Moroccans prefer to break their fast outside the house, and some of them are forced to do so because of their work or living conditions. Cafes and restaurants offer various breakfast offers, while others prefer the atmosphere of the beach and squares, and only weather conditions prevent them from doing so.
After the Tarawih prayer, the evening continues either at home, accompanied by family and friends, or outside it.