The diary game. A Blessed Friday in Ramadan Amidst the Serenity of Kashmir. 20-02-2026

Friday, the second day of Ramadan here in the Valley of Kashmir, began in the quiet stillness before dawn. Fasting throughout the day is an obligation according to Islamic tenets, and the pre-dawn meal holds great importance. For that reason, I woke up at around 5 AM and straightaway performed ablution to prepare myself not only for Sehri but also for the morning prayers at the nearby mosque.

These days, a large number of people can be seen entering the mosques, as fasting without prayer feels incomplete. It is believed that prayers offered during Ramadan carry immense rewards. According to Islamic teachings, every obligatory prayer during this blessed month is rewarded many times more than on ordinary days. This does not mean that prayers are to be offered only during Ramadan, but it emphasizes the spiritual significance of worship and fasting in these sacred days.

After having my pre-dawn meal, I went to offer the Fajr prayer at the nearby mosque. The calmness of the early morning, combined with the collective devotion of the people, created a deeply peaceful atmosphere. After finishing the prayers and making supplications, I returned home and rested for a while.

By 9:30 AM, I woke up again. It was a bright and sunny day. Since we had started fasting just a day earlier, the body had not yet adjusted to waking up so early and eating nothing throughout the day. It felt slightly unusual, but within a week or so, we would adapt to the routine.

As it was Friday, I had to complete my daily tasks early because later in the day I needed to attend the congregational prayers. I spent some time reading chapters of Indian Polity from Indian Polity, as I am quite fond of understanding how India functions through its administrative and political setup.

Around 12:30 PM, I performed ablution again and left for the congregational Friday prayers at the grand mosque of our village. As I entered, I could feel a different spiritual vibe that had engulfed the entire place. Offering the prayer in congregation brought immense peace and satisfaction. The prayers concluded around 2:30 PM.

Afterwards, I met my friends who had also come for the prayers. One of them had recently been transferred back to our home district from a far-off district, and he rarely gets time for such gatherings. We decided to spend some time together on the outskirts of our village. I first went home to take out my car, and while leaving, my mother handed me a few items that needed to be delivered to their owner.

We drove to a nearby town, where we offered the afternoon prayer and spent some time there. By chance, we met one of our old middle school teachers. It was exciting to see him after such a long time. At first, he couldn’t recognize us, but soon he connected our faces with old memories, and we shared a warm conversation.

Later, we returned home, and it was almost time to break the fast. At home, I helped arrange various dishes on the dining table for everyone who was fasting. The moment of breaking the fast felt deeply satisfying after a long day of restraint.

After Iftar, I offered the Maghrib prayer, had an early dinner, and later went to the mosque for Isha and Tarawih prayers. Returning home after the night prayers, I finally went to bed, bringing an end to a spiritually fulfilling second day of Ramadan.