RAMADAN Photogallery! (Earth, tradition, pray, faith, catholic)

[Djamila]

Share some photographs of Ramadan from around the world.

I want to thank Faruk for these gorgeous photographs of Ramadan in Travnik. Travnik was the capital city of Bosnia during the Ottoman Empire and has more mosques per capita than any other city in the world, most of them ancient historic sites.

Travnik is also a very traditional city, by Bosnian standards. This is not only the way of life among Travnik's Muslims, but also among its Roman Catholics as well. The city once had large and assimilated Jewish and Orthodox Christian populations, but the Jewish population was exterminated during the holocaust and the Orthodox Christian population was harassed to such a point during the war that all but 4 families left.

Arab tourist agencies often focus more of their organized tours on Travnik than on Sarajevo simply because the lifestyle and culture in the city is so much more appealing for traditional, Islamic tourists. Alcohol is still a part of daily life and the hijab is as rare in Travnik as it is everywhere else in Bosnia, but the city shuts down completely five times a day for prayers, and the warm and generous lifestyle greatly reflects the most admirable traits of Arab culture.

Travnik is in the central Bosnian mountains where fog is so common that one of the most common expressions about the city is, "No one has ever counted how many hours of sunshine God has taken from this valley, but the people of Travnik still insist that, when the sun shines, it shines over their city like nowhere else on earth."

When you say you are from Travnik to a Bosnian from another region of the country, they automatically assume you to be a pleasurable, simple, friendly and modest person. They consider you the type they'd be willing to lend money to, willing to trust their daughters with, and willing to hire for jobs that carry a lot of responsibilities.

Here is a little look at perhaps the most traditional, Islamic city in Europe during its greatest period of faith.

The flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the flag of Bosniaks (almost all of whom are Muslim, some are Roman Catholic), and the flag of Bosnian Muslims.


The Painted Mosque of downtown Travnik.


One of the greatest local tourist attractions, the Springs.


Two more of the city's mosques.

[Djamila]

The water wheels of Travnik. For centuries they powered the entire city.


Fetching water in Travnik. The rivers in Bosnian cities are almost all still clean enough to drink from.


View from the city's ancient castle.


A view from the castle:

[Djamila]

An overview of the Springs.


A typical house in Travnik.


The Carsija (market) below the Painted Mosque.


And again, the carsija.

[Djamila]

View of the old fortress.


And the city's clock tower, used to tell the time of day for the 5 daily prayers.