BEIRUT, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Khoder Kamal, a resident of Lebanon's southern city of Nabatieh, visits daily during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan the city's stadium, where a cannon for Ramadan has been placed for over 100 years.
He carefully prepares the cannon to fire its shots when Muslim worshippers begin and break their fast.
For the past 30 years, Kamal has been doing this job with pleasure and contentment.
"This is among the rare ancient Ramadan traditions inherited from grandfathers and is still ongoing; I am proud to be part of preserving such a tradition," Kamal told Xinhua.
Kamal explained that the cannon fires two shots during the day -- one at dusk to notify Muslim worshippers that it is time to break their fast, and another shot in the early morning, signaling the start of a new fasting day.
"In addition, the cannon fires six shots upon the start of Ramadan," Kamal added.
Tens of people flock daily during Ramadan to Nabatieh to watch the Ramadan cannon firing its shot.
"The cannon has become a tourist attraction with young and old people visiting Nabatieh in the afternoon from different regions in the south, enjoying taking pictures next to it," Mohammad, Kamal's son, told Xinhua.
He said people eagerly await the cannon's thunderous shot, looking at the vast mass of fire and flames erupting from its nozzle.
For Mohammad, watching the cannon firing its shot has been a source of joy since his early childhood.
"It's a pleasure to hear its strong sound resonating over long distances," said Mohammad, who later started helping his father operate the cannon.
To prepare the shots, Mohammad said that he needed to place seven wads of gunpowder wrapped in papers in the cannon's nozzle, noting that at operation, the cannon has to be kept at least seven meters away from people to ensure safety.
Yahya Fahs, a writer and historian, told Xinhua that the Ramadan cannon in Nabatieh was adopted before the mosques' minarets were equipped with loudspeakers to alert people about the times of Iftar, a fast-breaking meal at the sunset, and Fajr, morning prayer time when Muslims start fasting for a new Ramadan day.
"This cannon has been located in the city's stadium for more than 100 years. People gather around it in the evenings to observe its preparation, which has become an important Ramadan tradition," said Moussa Shmeisani, head of the Nabatieh Merchants Association.
Despite the ongoing military clashes between Lebanon and Israel on the border, it is still important to preserve this valuable Ramadan legacy, said Fahs. ■
