Balkans | Centuries-old Bosnian grandmothers remember the past Ramadan with longing

Selma Hadzagić, 100, and Ajka Lukmic, 109, who live in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, talked about the old Ramadan they remember with longing.

Selma Hadzagić, 100, and Ajka Lukmic, 109, who live in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, talked about the old Ramadan they remember with longing.

Centuries-old Bosnian grandmothers Hadzajic and Lukmic share old Ramadan rams and days spent fasting and worshiping with the AA reporter.

The 100-year-old Hadzagic, who lives in a house with 200 years of history in Sarajevo, mentioned that he lost his wife 40 years ago and said: “There were relatives on this street where I lived. Over time, some lost their lives, while others moved From here. There is no one left.” He said.

Hadzajek said he wanted to work in the factory in his youth, but the men of the house wouldn’t allow it, “I’m sorry I didn’t go to high school. Lots of people worked in the tobacco factory. My father and brothers used to work there too, but they wouldn’t let me.” He said.

Hadzajic said he has fasted since childhood:

I grew up with the tradition of Ramadan. I had a mother, father, sister and two brothers. We used to fast at home and wake up for suhoor every day. Fasting did not stop. Since everyone in my family was working, breakfast was taken in turn. I do not delay my prayer and my prayer. Fasting is not difficult. I don’t even do a job. When we were young, we used to garden, and it was a bit difficult to fast.”

Hadzajić also said he witnessed World War II and the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Anis Hadzagic, the son of Selma Hadzagic, also mentioned that his mother could not fast every day since last Ramadan, and she fasted as much as her health permitted.

“I can no longer fast.”

Ajca Lukmic, who lives in a 150-year-old house in another area of ​​Sarajevo, said she was born in 1914 and grew up with relatives in Sarajevo after being orphaned at a young age.

He has problems with his memory, Lukmich said, “Sometimes I forget the suras. I’m sorry, but I can’t fast anymore. In the past, our house was full of people during Ramadan.” He remembered the good old days with his words.

Lukmic stated that he misses the old times and that he is an example of the Bosnian tradition.

Lukmic’s daughter, Zumrita Didajic, noted that her mother is the oldest living woman in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He said.

Didajic mentioned that his mother was in good health, but had memory and hearing problems, and noted that her mother could remember the past well, but could not keep new information in her mind.

Didajic explained that his mother had been fasting every Ramadan for 93 years, from the age of 7 to 100, and said, “Over the past nine years, his health and age have not allowed him to fast. He tries not to interrupt his prayers. He uses phrases.”

While the mayor of Stari Grad Ibrahim Hadzipagrek was greeted by grandmother Lukmek with a smile, Hadzipagrek said that he visits 109-year-old Lukmek every Ramadan.