How Ramadan has transformed night-time activities in Eastleigh

The onset of Ramadan has significantly altered the daily rhythm of Eastleigh, shifting the area’s bustling activities from daytime to night. As Muslims observe fasting from dawn to sunset, the daytime streets remain relatively quiet, with many residents staying indoors or at work to conserve energy.

However, once the evening approaches, the neighborhood undergoes a complete transformation.

During the day, fewer people are seen on the streets. Many restaurants remain closed as residents prefer to stay at home or work while fasting.

The slow pace of daytime activities contrasts sharply with the vibrancy that emerges in the evening.

From around 6 pm, Eastleigh begins to come alive as residents prepare to break their fast. People who stayed indoors throughout the day start coming out, and the streets gradually fill up. The neighbourhood, which appeared quiet during the day, quickly turns into a hive of activity.

Restaurants, which remained closed for most of the day, reopen in anticipation of customers looking to break their fast. By 5 pm, many people can be seen seated in these establishments, waiting for 6:48 pm, the time for Maghrib Adhan, which signals the end of the fast.

Street vendors also take their positions near mosques, selling snacks and drinks to those who prefer to break their fast at the mosque. These vendors display their goods to attract worshippers looking for quick meals before heading home or to restaurants for a full meal.

From 7:30 pm, the streets become congested as residents engage in various activities. Some people run errands, others go shopping, while others visit mosques for prayers. Some head to the gym, while others engage in recreational activities such as playing football or visiting malls.

The night air is soon filled with the sounds of Qur’an recitations from mosques as Tarawih prayers begin. The prayers, which are performed only during Ramadan, draw thousands of people to mosques. Women also take part, walking in groups to join the congregational prayers.

Business activity peaks during these hours. Juice vendors, snack sellers, grocery stores, and restaurants experience high customer turnout. The increased number of people in the streets encourages businesses to extend their working hours to cater to the night-time demand.

One of the establishments benefiting from this surge is Business Bay Square Mall, which has extended its working hours to 2 am. The mall, which houses one of the largest mosques in Kenya, attracts thousands of worshippers. Many of these visitors also shop and dine at the mall’s outlets after prayers.

Despite Tarawih prayers concluding around 10 pm, the streets remain crowded until midnight. Some businesses, including hawkers along Yusuf Haji Avenue, operate until 1 am, while others close earlier. However, restaurants continue to serve customers until the early morning hours.

By 5:30 am, the streets gradually clear as residents take Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal before the next day’s fast begins. Restaurants cater to these early-morning customers, providing meals to sustain them throughout the fasting hours.

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