Social Rituals at Al-Nuba Region during Ramadan

South of Aswan, residents of Al-Nuba region during Ramadan, enjoy social rituals and outstanding atmosphere. This place, overlooking the Nile river, still maintains the Egyptian cultural heritage that makes this month distinct.

[caption id="attachment_50143" align="alignright" width="156"] Nubian "Iftar"[/caption]

Right after the sunset, streets turn to beehives and young men from different families spread all over the place inviting people to have “iftar”with them. During these moments, women and kids are busy preparing food, water and juices. Food trays and drink bottles are set on the streets’ tables outside homes.

[caption id="attachment_50137" align="alignleft" width="233"] the abryah[/caption]

The most popular drinks are 'aradib'- the Nubian name of tamarind- 'abryah'- the favorite drink there and roselle. 'Abryah' drink is a mixture of wheat, maize flours and yeast. This mixture is fermented for 1 to 2 days then it’s baked in layers. These layers should be dried first before they are crushed and mixed with lemon juice, roselle or any other kind of juice.

Dates with different shapes and types are also set on the tables.

After hearing the call to Maghrib, all people head to mosques to perform prayers. Then, they come back, and all families sit together and eat the most famous and tasty Nubian dishes like 'jakud', 'wiecka', 'sakhina', 'korumdied' and 'cabied', as tradition of Al-Nuba Region during Ramadan.

[caption id="attachment_50139" align="alignright" width="158"] korumdied[/caption]

'Korumdied' is fenugreek paste and a main dish served on breakfast. It’s prepared by roasting fenugreek with margarine, then adding some flour and water until it’s done.

Regarding the Nubian bread called “dauka”, it contains flour, salt, water, corn and it’s baked on  specific baking tins.

'Cadoubie' is a powdered dry okra and is usually eaten with 'dauka' bread.

'Jakud' is a kind of mallow eaten also with 'dauka' bread.

The main dessert in Nubian houses is “cabied”-  'dauka' bread mixed with margarine plus sugar or honey.

Noodles with milk is also considered a staple on normal days’ breakfast especially Fridays and Eid al-Fitr. One of the Nubian social rituals is that bride’s relatives usually present this kind of dessert to the groom’s family for some days after the wedding.

[caption id="attachment_50152" align="alignright" width="211"] atchicool[/caption]

After iftar, they drink 'atchicool', a traditional tea with milk, then have some break before performing the night prayer “Isha” and “Taraweeh”-  extra prayers which Muslims read at night in the month of Ramadan.

Eid al-Fitr celebrations at Al Nuba start after performing “Fajr” - dawn prayers- and “Eid” prayer- special prayers offered to commemorate the two Islamic festivals- then people visit their relatives, neighbors to have breakfast and stay together till evening.

During the second and third days, families visit their relatives and friends in far Nubian villages and kids get so many benefits from these visits as they return back home with bunch of sweets.

for more please click ramadan in egypt

Contributed by Salma Yassin