What celebs said on Ramzan 2024 and sehri and iftar timings in India

(Clockwise from top, right) actors Aamir Ali, Rakshanda Khan, Iqbal Khan and model-actor Gauahar Khan; a file photo of Jama Masjid during Ramzan in Delhi. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

The crescent moon has been sighted in Saudi Arabia. The holiest month in the Islamic calendar, Ramzan, has officially begun in many parts of the world. In South Asia (India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, etc.), the 29-30-day (sunrise to sunset) fasting period begins tomorrow, March 12.

During Ramadan (called Ramzan in South Asia), the holy month of fasting that marks the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, all practising Muslims fast, pray, introspect and engage in philanthropic activities by giving back to the community. The month celebrates the first time when the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad. The month of fasting or Sawm is among one of the Five Pillars of Islam, the others are Shahada (profession of faith), Salat (Prayer), Zakat (Almsgiving), and Hajj (Pilgrimage).

In India, some celebrities who will fast in the Holy Month include actors Shah Rukh Khan, Gauahar Khan, Sana Khan, Huma Qureshi, Saqib Saleem, Hina Khan, artist DJ Khaled and cricketers Irfan Pathan and Yusuf Pathan, among many others.

Talking to Hindustan Times, some of the Indian celebrities shared what the Holy Month of purification means, what they do during that period and how they feel positive, their soul cleansed. New mom model-actor Gauahar Khan, who qreligiously fasts during Ramzan but didn’t fast last year owing to her pregnancy, said, “For every practising Muslim, Ramzan is the highlight of the year….It’s the most important month for us. It’s Allah’s promise that during Ramzan, he’d take away all the bad influences. That’s why it’s the month of fasting, asking for whatever you desire and doing charity. With Zehaan (her son, with actor-husband Zaid Darbar), I cannot wait to wake up for my sehri and have him join us. I am looking forward to dressing him up for the namaz. I want him to enjoy the festivities and start learning our culture. I am on a strict diet, so I will make sure I don’t eat too much fried stuff.”

Actor Rakshanda Khan, while talking to Hindustan Times, recalled how, because they “lived in a joint family, [with] 20 cousins”, keeping the number of rozas (fasts) was like a “contest”. “As you grow older, the deeper meaning of the fast dawns on you. It’s not about hunger but cleansing. [Ramzan] is all about calming your mind…the art of gaining control over all my excesses,” she said.

The Holy Month is also about giving. Faraaz, Khamosh Pani and I Hate Luv Storys actor Aamir Ali said to Hindustan Times, “Like every festival, Ramzan is a month of remembering God and meeting your near and dear ones while breaking your fast. For me, the most important thing is that you make sure you feed people. The ones who fast should be fed well and that’s the most important thing for me – to feed people who need it the most. Ramzan and Eid are like Diwali or any other festival, where you meet your close ones and take blessings from your elders.”

Actor Iqbal Khan added, “Ramzan…is amazing as it’s the best way to detox your body. Ramzan is also not just about not eating. That’s a very small part of it. The other part is to try and be a good human being, by being kind, compassionate and understanding. It’s about spirituality, connecting with God and believing that He is inside you.”

In geopolitics, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, on X (formerly Twitter), wished millions of Muslims around the world “Ramadan Kareem” with this video message: “Ramadan embodies the values of peace, resilience, and generosity. It is a period of reflection and prayer, an opportunity to come together and uplift each other. Sadly, many will mark this month while facing conflict, displacement and fear. My thoughts and heart are with them – from the people of Afghanistan to the Sahel, from the Horn of Africa to Syria and beyond. And I wish to express a special message of solidarity and support to all those suffering from the horrors in Gaza. In these trying times, the spirit of Ramadan is a beacon of hope, a reminder of our shared humanity. Let us all be inspired: To heal divisions; to support those in need; and to work as one for the safety and dignity of every member of the human family. May this Holy Month bring peace and guide us towards a more just and compassionate world. Ramadan Kareem.”

In other news, in his Ramzan message, US President Joe Biden has pledged to work towards 6-week ceasefire in Gaza, as reported by PTI.

Moon sighting in India, city-wise:

The fasting is bookended by two meals daily: sehri or suhoor (before sunrise) and iftaar (after sunset), the latter is like a feast of fruits, seviyan, sheer khurma and phirni, eaten to recoup on the lost energy all day.

Ahmedabad: Sehri at 5.38 am and iftar at 6.47 pm
Bengaluru: 5.19 am (sehri); 6.31 pm (iftar)
Chennai: 5.08 am (sehri); 6.20 pm (iftar)
Delhi: 5.18 am (sehri); 6,20 pm (iftar)
Hyderabad: 5.16 am (sehri); 6.26 pm (iftar)
Kolkata: 4.35 am (sehri); 4.45 pm (iftar)
Kanpur: 5.06 am (sehri); 6.15 pm (iftar)
Mumbai: 5.38 am (sehri); 6.48 pm (iftar)
Pune: 5.34 am (sehri); 6.44 pm (iftar)Surat: 5.38 am (sehri); 6.47 pm (iftar)