Yesterday when I arrived from Bishkek at Dushanbe airport I saw an unpleasant scene: a Kyrgyz guy who came by the same plane asked a Tajik guy (airport personnel) for a light (matches, lighter), while having a cigarette in his mouth. That was the main mistake during the Holy Ramadan that one can make when he/she travels to a country where many people heedfully observe this religious event. By the way it was the “new” Boeing 737-200, and seems like the pilots are still learning how to fly on it. Several times I had a feeling that the pilots were stunting like pilots of a fighter aircraft during a battle.

The Tajik guy looked angrily at him and asked several questions? – “Are you Tajik or Russia or Kyrgyz? Who are you? Why are you asking me about a light when I’m fasting? Do you know that it is a Holy Ramadan and all the Muslims should fast?

The situation with these guys regarding the Holy Ramadan reflects the situation in Bishkek and Dushanbe. Bishkek is a more liberal city where few people fast and Dushanbe is a more traditional where many people fast. But, did the Tajik guy have a right to be rude to the Kyrgyz guy just because he was not observing the Ramadan? Certainly the answer is “no”. Fasting is a private issue and no one can force you to do it or curse you for not doing it. It was the end of the day and probably the Tajik guy was so hungry and tired that he felt offended when he was asked for a light.

Ramadan is one of the main events in Tajikistan and people prepare for this month carefully. This holiday is not only about not-eating but also about eating. People do not eat during the day time from sunrise to sunset but in the evenings people can eat many delicious foods. And, usually the prices for food rise before the Ramadan. IWPR has a good piece on that.