Bahrain fires Ramadan cannon in public for the first time since Covid-19 pandemic began
12 April, 2022
Bahrainis have welcomed the return of a popular Ramadan tradition as Manama's iftar cannon fired again after two years.
The cannon fell silent as part of restrictions that included movement bans and mask wearing, brought in to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The tradition, which marks the end of a day's fast during the holy month, remains across much of the Middle East. The firing of the cannon reached Bahrain through Saudi Arabia, where it was adopted as a modern tradition in the 1920s in Makkah and Madinah. It has made a welcome return after Bahrain scrapped many of its Covid-19 restrictions on March 30.
Since the start of the pandemic in early 2020, Bahrain has recorded about 560,023 cases and 1,473 deaths.
On Monday, the country's Health Ministry recorded 592 new cases and one death.
"We are happy to witness this tradition with our children and teach them the story behind the iftar cannon and what it symbolises to us as Muslims and a community," Ahmed, a visitor to the cannon display in Manama, told the Bahrain News Agency.
"This annual ceremony welcomes us to embrace this tradition with safety and prosperity."
Cannons fired at The Avenues waterfront shopping area in the capital, and the Arad and Riffa forts.
Bahrain also announced a scheme to renovate mosques across the country, and build new ones.
Source: www.thenationalnews.com