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Soaps of Ramadan
Ramadan is the holiest month for Muslims around the world. Ramadan is a time to fast, cleanse the sould and surrender to God. But, in the Middle East, a new trend of how to observe this holiest of months. Arab channels’ soap operas, which are offered by hundreds of Hotels Dubai UAE , contain tantalizing twists to entertain one through the entire month of Ramadan.
Ramadan creates big bucks for Arab satellite channels. Millions of dollars are spent on special programming, much of it comparable to Western soap operas , to entertain en mass during the sunrise to sunset fasting and cleansing. One program, ‘Baab El-Hara’ (The Neighborhood Gate), offers intense drama focused on a family fued. A husband and his pregnant wife are separated as the in-laws fight it out with each other trying to teach the other a lesson. The wife misses her husband and wants to go back to him. He kisses his mother’s hand and promises her he’ll do only what she wants.
The soaps showcase social traditions mixed with melodramatic characters and enought plot twists that last the entire month of Ramadan. But, it’s not all soap opera’s, there is also a smattering of history programs propagating the glorious days of Islamic and Arabic past eras. The history channels showcase ancient Arabic tribal costumes, complete with the traditional headdress with a dagger on the side and tons of camels being ridden everywhere in the desert.
But during the soap opera boom, Ramadan has become the subject of heated debates on the news channels. People have expressed serious concerns that sitting in front of a television set all day doesn’t go well with the spirit of the month. Muslims are supposed to be contemplating and meditating, not channel surfing. The Dubai news channel, Al-Arabiya , found a unique way to entertain the viewers by airing a documentary where the host walks in the footspets of the prophet Mohammed as was written about in the Quran. Al-Araiya also offers a daily lighter side of Ramadan, focusing on the people’s health during the fasting with recommendations on the best meals to eat and the calories they contain. So, if a Muslim decides to break from their fast, there is a neighborhood cafe willing to serve them a traditional shisha smoke and a light meal served with a side of satellite channels playing Dubai’s most popular soap.
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