Zubair welcomes Ramadan with drums and chants in centuries-old Gulf tradition

BASRA — Chants of praise and prayers rose to the rhythm of traditional maritime drums in Sikkat Mulla Adnan, the most well-known alley in Zubair, as residents gathered to welcome Ramadan in a custom common along the Gulf coast.

Celebrations also spread through the neighborhoods of Al-Rashidiya and Mahallat Al-Arab, where children wore colorful clothing and families joined large crowds. The festivities will continue until the night of Garangao, locally known as Majina, followed by Eid al-Fitr rituals.

Nouri al-Mulla, founder of the Almas band, said the alley was formerly known as Sikkat Al-Abeed because many of its residents were dark-skinned. Some have since died or left the area, while the Mulla family and several other dark-skinned families remain.

He said the alley is named after its elder, Mulla Adnan, and is widely recognized by that name. “This is a custom found along the Gulf coasts to welcome and bid farewell to Ramadan. We also have the Abu Tbeila and the Garangao traditions, and visitors from other countries come to watch the event,” he said.

Nazem Sabri, a member of the group, said the people of Zubair began organizing the event and that it was well received by residents. “The activities begin with religious chants, and the aim is to bring joy for the arrival of the holy month,” he said.

Khalid al-Mubarak, a Zubair resident, said people come from across Zubair and Basra to Sikkat Mulla Adnan to mark the welcoming of Ramadan. He noted that the heritage practice is also common in Al-Rashidiya, Al-Jahiza and Mahallat Al-Arab.

During these nights, the alley turns into a social gathering space where devotional chants blend with traditional songs, linking past and present with each arrival of the holy month.