Daily Archives: July 29, 2014

Millions of Muslims across the world celebrate the start of Eid to mark the end of fasting for Ramadan

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Pakistani Muslim woman

Muslims in Indonesia

 

Millions of Muslims across the world have been celebrating the start of the Eid al-Fitr holiday this week, which marks the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan.

Celebrations have been taking place across the world for the three-day holiday to mark the end of Ramadan which sees observant Muslims refrain from eating or drinking anything from dawn to sunset in a show of spiritual devotion.

The festival of Eid al-Fitr – the ‘breaking of the fast’ – sees devout Muslims meeting to exchange gifts, enjoy food and decorate their homes in a show of thanksgiving.

While celebrations have been taking place across the world, the mood has been dark for millions of people affected by the Syrian civil war, the Gaza war and the militant advance in Iraq.

During Eid celebrations, Muslims traditionally greet each other with the greeting of Eid Mubarak, which translates roughly as ‘Eid blessings’.

As well as the special prayers and celebrations, customs of Eid include dressing up in new clothes, eating special delicacies, giving presents and, for women, decoration of the hands with henna.

This year’s celebrations however have been darkened across many parts of the world.

 

 

Ռամադանի ավարտ

In Gaza City yesterday, streets were largely deserted, as residents huddled indoors for safety. More than 1,110 Palestinians have been killed, more than 6,500 wounded and tens of thousands displaced in the last three weeks of fighting between Israel and Hamas, according to Palestinian officials. Israel has seen 53 Israeli soldiers and three civilians killed.

Pakistani_Muslim_devotees

It’s about BEE-ing the best: The men and women who have got Ontario abuzz in annual Best Bee Beard competition

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Օնտարիոյում տեղի է ունեցել Մեղուներից մորուք ամենամյա մրցույթը

It’s not exactly a competition for the faint-hearted, but let’s hope there was no sting in the tale for any of these brave bee beard growers.

The remarkably daring men and women have got Ontario all abuzz after taking part in the tenth annual Clovermead Bee Beard Competition.

The contest sees four teams of competitors entice swarms of bees to the head and torso of a ‘beard grower’ before two winners are chosen by the audience and the official judges.

 

 

Օնտարիոյում տեղի է ունեցել Մեղուներից մորուք ամենամյա մրցույթը

Մեղուներից մորուք

 

Beebearding is thought to date back to the 1700s when an English beekeeper discovered he could create a beard of bees by tying the queen to a thread around his neck and would parade through the streets wearing the unusual costume.

At the Clovermead competition however, once in place, the beards are weighed before each wearer goes on to strut their stuff and perform a little dance in front of the watching crowds.

The Bee Beard Champion is then chosen by judges, while the audience is also able to pick their Crowd Favourite.

Islamic State offering HONEYMOON bus tours across Syria and Iraq after opening ‘marriage bureau’ for women looking to marry the jihadist of their dreams

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Islamic State's buses

 

Extremist Islamists may well have wondered how they could possibly celebrate the happiest day of their lives – their wedding – while at the same time re-affirming their commitment to violent jihad.

Or they may not have. In any case, the gap in the market has now been filled by the Islamic State, which is offering honeymoon bus tours across its self-declared caliphate spanning Iraq and Syria.

The move into tourism comes after the group, formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, opened a marriage bureau for women who want to meet the jihadi of their dreams.

The matchmaking service is operating from Al-Bab, in Syria’s Aleppo province, for ‘single women and widows who would like to marry IS fighters,’ said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Newlywed couples can then join other civilians on Islamic State’s bus tours around the various parts of the newly declared Muslim theocracy.

Running twice a week from Raqa in Syria to Anbar, Iraq, IS buses fly the group’s distinctive black flag and play jihadist songs throughout the journey, reports AFP.

It is not known whether tourists are invited to sing along.

Islamic State now controls massive swathes of northern and eastern Syria, the Iraq-Syria border, and parts of northern and western Iraq.