Inchara Udupi
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP)
Udupi, Jul 14: The song 'Mahe Ramzan Aya Hamara' can be heard often during the wee hours of holy month of Ramadan in Muslim-dominated neighbourhoods. The song is a wake-up call by Fakirs given for Sehri or pre-dawn meal.
Muslims who fast during the month of Ramadan are required to get up in the wee hours of the mornng and have pre-dawn meals called 'Sehri'. Iftar (breaking the fast at sunset) and Sehri are both equally important to those who fast.
To help the Muslim brethren get up on time for Sehri, Fakirs have been going from door to door giving the early morning wake-up call.
In the olden times when there were no telephones, alarm clocks or mobile phones, Fakirs used to get up early in the morning and beat the traditional Daira (a circular drum made of animal skin), sing and wake up people in time for Sehri. With the advent of mobiles phones and alarm clocks, Fakirs have become rare. Yet, in some Muslim populated areas, the Fakirs have continued their month-long service. Most of them are from Andhra Pradesh.
The Fakirs get up early and between 2.30 am to 4 am, with lamps in their hands, go to houses of Muslims and wake the families with Daira songs. They then go to the house identified by them and have Sehri and later in the evening, Iftar. Families eagerly wait for their arrival.
The people who benefit by the service of Fakirs extend monetary help to them. The Fakirs do not demand any money, but accept whatever amount is given to them with a smile, pray to Allah to bless them and leave.
The Fakirs go back to the hometowns after Ramadan and run their businesses. Some of them go to well-known Dargahs in the country.
Nazeerulla Shah Khalifa Rafai, from Vinayak Nagar of Ananthpur district, Andhra Pradesh has been rendering this service for the last 45 years.
"As the number of houses have increased, my sons Munawar Alifa Rafai and Sayyad Mazhar Saheb Rafai too have joined me in rendering this service. Hindus also give money to us. Police respect our profession and do not trouble us," says a smiling 65-years-old Nazeerulla Shah Khaleefa Rafai.