Ramadan starts on June 29
Sunday June 29 marks the first day of the fasting month of Ramadan in Thailand the Chula Ratchamontri Arzis Pitakkumpol, the Muslim spiritual leader, announced the sighting of the moon.
Lt-Gen Walit Rojanapakdi, commander of the Fourth Army Region, joined hundreds of southern Muslims who gathered at the moon watch tower in Ban Bukae Pareh in Yaha district of Yala to catch the first glimpse of the moon. Several officials of the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre and the forward command of the Internal Security Operations Command were also present to join the moon watching and to deliver gifts to the Muslims.
Lt-Gen Walit said Muslims in the three southernmost provinces were allowed to take leave so that they could observe the fasting. He met with members of the Muslim provincial committee and was told that during the Ramadan all Muslims were supposed to refrain from committing sins and violence.
Prior to the start of the Ramadan on Sunday, many southern Muslims were seen flocking in droves to the beaches, zoos or waterfalls to entertain themselves since Friday before observing the fasting month. Youths and children were seen frolicking in the sea, swimming or taking a ride on banana boat.
At the central mosque in Pattani on June 18, religious leaders from the Islamic provincial committees of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat led thousands of Muslims in a ceremony to ask for blessings from the Allah during the month of Ramadan.
On June 21, SBPAC secretary-general Panu Uthairat presented dates from His Majesty the King to chairmen of five Islamic provincial committees to be distributed to Muslims in five southern provinces to be eaten during the Ramadan.
Lt-Gen Walit and provincial governors from five southern provinces were also present to witness the presentation ceremony. A convoy of trucks carrying dry dates later left the SBPAC head office to be distributed to 2,379 mosques each of which was to receive 10 kilogrammes of dates.
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Caption : The ceremony to ask for blessings from the Allah during the month of Ramadan at the central mosque in Pattani.