Blast marks end of fast in Bahrain as crowds return for Ramadan cannon

It has been two years since large gatherings were allowed

Bahrainis have welcomed the return of a popular Ramadan tradition as Manama’s iftar cannon fired again in front of large crowds after two years of covid restrictions.

Large crowds were not allowed to attend the cannon firing over the last two years as part of restrictions that included reduced movement and bans on gatherings as well as rules on mask wearing, brought in to prevent the spread of Covid-19. But this year, many more people could be seen observing the firing.

The tradition, which marks the end of a day's fast during the holy month, remains across much of the Middle East.

“Last year, there were more restrictions to Covid-19 since the pandemic was all around the world, and we had a lot of restrictions like wearing a mask and social distancing and no one is allowed to enter to take pictures of the cannon and the police officers,” First Lieutenant for Bahrain's Ministry of Interior, Abdulrahman Al Mansouri, told Reuters.

“This year, the Kingdom of Bahrain reduced the restrictions outdoors and indoors by leaving the choice to the community to wear the mask or not and they can enter the cannon site to take pictures of the police officers and the cannon.”

The firing of the cannon reached Bahrain through Saudi Arabia, where it was adopted as a modern tradition in the 1920s in Makkah and Madinah. It first began in Egypt.

Spectators made a welcome return after Bahrain scrapped many of its Covid-19 restrictions on March 30, taking photos with the cannon and police officers.

Since the start of the pandemic in early 2020, Bahrain has recorded about 560,023 cases and 1,473 deaths.

On Monday, the country's Health Ministry recorded 592 new cases and one death.

“We are happy to witness this tradition with our children and teach them the story behind the iftar cannon and what it symbolises to us as Muslims and a community,” Ahmed, a visitor to the cannon display in Manama, told the Bahrain News Agency.

“This annual ceremony welcomes us to embrace this tradition with safety and prosperity.”

Cannons fired at The Avenues waterfront shopping area in the capital, and the Arad and Riffa forts.

Bahrain also announced a scheme to renovate mosques across the country, and build new ones.

This story has been amended to clarify the Ramadan cannon was fired during the pandemic, however covid restrictions on large gatherings still applied.