Ramadan In Al-Baha: Lighting Traditions And Shared Solidarity Through Heritage

Ramadan in the high mountains of Al-Baha is marked by deep spirituality and strong social ties. The holy month is treated as a season of worship and shared responsibility. Families, neighbours and worshippers combine religious duties with inherited customs that stress solidarity, generosity and close community relationships across the region’s villages.

Many of these customs continue in Al-Baha, even as lifestyles change with modern services and technology. Residents still revive old practices each year, seeing Ramadan as a link between generations. The month becomes a time when memories of simpler days return, reinforcing values of modest living and genuine human connection.

The sense of brotherhood during Ramadan in Al-Baha is clearest inside the mosques. People gather before Maghrib prayer for simple communal Iftars, each person bringing dates or small dishes. These shared meals avoid formality and highlight equality. After Taraweeh, men meet in majlises to exchange news, while women send cooked dishes between neighbouring homes.

Older residents often recall how the start of Ramadan in Al-Baha was once announced without modern tools. Villagers relied on visible and audible signals that reached surrounding communities. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, an 80-year-old resident, said villagers used to light torches on mountaintops as a visual signal to neighboring communities that Ramadan had begun. In some villages, the firing of rifles into the air served as an auditory announcement, reflecting the simplicity of communication and the close-knit nature of society at the time.

Preparations for Ramadan in Al-Baha historically began with what residents called "Ramadan shopping." Men travelled to the weekly Raghadan Market and other governorate markets. They bought grains, ghee, dates and coffee to cover family needs. At home, women prepared ingredients, grinding grains into flour and baking tandoor bread for daily use.

Iftar tables during Ramadan in Al-Baha were known for local food prepared in generous quantities. Aseeda, a type of porridge, was usually placed at the centre, covered with ghee and honey. Soups from local grains and marqooq, a flatbread stew, were also common. Families cooked extra portions to share with neighbours, reflecting compassion and mutual support.

These customs surrounding Ramadan in Al-Baha show how faith, food and fellowship are closely connected in the region. Old and young residents participate in communal prayers, market visits and shared meals. Through these acts, communities preserve inherited traditions while maintaining the spirit of brotherhood and social cohesion that has characterised the area for generations.

With inputs from SPA