In a month, when believers are called to fast from food and drink to realize the things that truly nourish and satisfy, many Muslims testify to putting on weight during Ramadan.Each year Ramadan is cause for an annual outpouring of generosity but the season is increasingly being hijacked by commercialism.
For many business people Ramadan is one of the greatest times each year when they can cash in and make huge sales. Ramadan very subtly appears to give a religious reason to spend up large.
Look at this recent announcement calling UAE business people to get ready to make their sales:
Ramadan Fair - A retail bonanza
The Ramadan Fair, a supporting event of the Ramadan Festival in Sharjah, is the one-stop shop for a comprehensive range of products needed to spruce up Eid Al Fitr festivities. This year the event will be held from August 28 to September 19 at Expo Centre Sharjah.
The fair offers an unparalleled opportunity to present products and services to the cream of the buyers from the entire region, and drive up sales and profits. It will focus on consumer items such as household products, furniture, electronics, food products, garments, footwear, gift items, jewellery and automobiles, among others.
Holy Month?
Can this season still be called the ‘holy’ month of Ramadan? How ‘different’ or ‘set apart’ in the real sense of these words, is this period from the normal time of the year?
In spite of commercialism and the powerful media pressure that surrounds most religious festivals, each person must decide how different such a period will be for them.
Dr Geoff Pound
Image: “It will focus on consumer items such as household products, furniture, electronics, food products, garments, footwear, gift items, jewellery and automobiles, among others.”
