Little kids keep date with Ramzan tradition

Lucknow: Faizia Kidwai, who is just 10, had been waiting for Ramzan for days. A student of Loreto Convent, her resolution was to observe her first roza (fast) this year.
Keeping her scarf and prayer mat neatly beside her bed, she insisted on setting her own alarm for Sehri, the special pre-dawn meal. When the morning finally arrived, with sleepy eyes but a proud smile, she joined her family at the table. "I am very happy to keep my first roza. I believe that Allah will reward me and fulfil my duas," insisted the little rozedaar. "She has been planning this for weeks. She would ask me at night what time the sehri would be and whether she could help set the table. I could see how important this first roza was for her," said her mother, Uzma Kidwai. Alia Sallaudhin, 11, too observed her first roza on Friday. A resident of Bangla Bazaar, she described the experience as exciting. "She had been watching us observe fast for years and always wondered how it would feel to complete an entire day without food or water," said her mother Yasmeen Sallaudhin. As part of the ritual, she recited short prayers, read simple duas and helped her mother with small household chores all through the day. When asked about her favourite dish at iftar (meal to break the fast), she giggled, "Fruit-chaat." With the first roza carrying a deep emotional meaning, Rizik Khan, 11, travelled from Varanasi to Lucknow to her aunt's house. "His wish was to observe his first fast in the loving memory of his grandfather," said his father Azeem Khan. "Rizik has always been a very patient child. We were not worried about him completing the fast because he understands its importance," said Azeem, an advocate. Eight-year-old Ayeza Talib surprised the family by insisting on keeping her first fast. Despite her age, she completed the fast with remarkable enthusiasm. Inspired by her sister, Ashmira, 6, also observed a partial fast for a few hours. "Both the sisters woke up early for the sehri, offered prayers for the ritual and were behaving like they have achieved such a huge accomplishment," said their mother, Nazia Talib. The day became even more special for Ayeza when her grandmother and aunt gifted her money as a token of appreciation. Expressing her joy, she said, "Now I will try to fast again. I made a lot of duas to have my own barbie house."