The spirit of Ramadan in Damascus is captured through the city's sounds, lights and traditions

Описание: (27 Feb 2026)
SYRIA RAMADAN NIGHTS

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS

RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

LENGTH: 4:16

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Damascus, Syria - 22 February 2026
1. Various of whirling dervishes performing at restaurant while people are watching
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mohammed al-Jamal, whirling dervish:
"We specialize in Sufi dancing, but as you’ve seen we’ve performed different shows including Sufi, national, folkloric and Egyptian."

3. Various of performer singing spiritual song during the whirling dervish show
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Maher al-Jamal, whirling dervish and head of the Mevlevi Sufi order in Damascus:
"We’ve inherited this way of life from our fathers and grandfathers. My grandfather is a whirling dervish, my father is a whirling dervish, and so is my brother. And I taught my children, Mohammed and my other son who was (performing) with him. We always try to preserve our heritage of the Sufi group so that it isn't lost, and so that no one enters the group and distorts it."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Damascus, Syria - 18 February 2026
5. Children running around in the Umayyad Mosque courtyard ++NIGHT SHOT++
6. Various of people praying inside Umayyad Mosque

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Damascus, Syria - 20 February 2026
++NIGHT SHOTS++
7. A musaharati, or dawn caller, banging drums and signing religious chants to wake people for a pre-dawn meal before they fast from dawn to sunset during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan
8. Musaharati calling out, UPSOUND (Arabic): "How long will you be asleep for? Get up and pray"
9. Various of Musaharati (Ramadan drummer) banging his drums, singing songs in praise of Prophet Muhammad to wake people up for the pre-dawn meal called suhoor
10. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mahmoud Sawan, musaharati:
“The Musaharati as a character is part of the Levantine heritage and tradition. In Damascus’ heritage, the Musaharati is found in the streets of the city. And this is still the case, thank God. And it has become one of the traits of the city.”

11. Musaharati calling out UPSOUND (Arabic): "Get up for your suhoor, Ramadan is here to visit you"

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Damascus, Syria - 19 February 2026
12. Various of street vendor selling Ramadan sweets
13. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Khaled Suyofi, Syrian chef:
"Thank God, there is demand and joy. People are happy this year, but we have to say that things were better last year. People were happier, their finances were better, they had money in their pockets. People are going to markets now just to browse, it’s rare that you see people buying things."

14. People walking by stalls of sweets
15. Various of street vendor selling Ramadan sweets
16. Man handing out coffee to people passing by in their cars
17. Police officer moving traffic along and man selling balloons walking behind him
STORYLINE:
The spirit of Ramadan in Syria comes out in the traditional sounds, sights, smells and flavors of Damascus during the fasting month.

As dusk settled over old Damascus one recent Ramadan night, a small crowd gathered at a restaurant not far from the famed Umayyad Mosque to watch whirling dervishes spin in meditative motion, their robes a blur of white and black as they move.

In Damascus, performances by whirling dervishes are rooted in the Sufi traditions of the Mevlevi order.

Damascus has long been home to Sufi communities, and the Mevlevi order established a presence in the city centuries ago during the Ottoman period.

"We specialize in Sufi dancing," said Mohammed al-Jamal, a whirling dervish. "We’ve performed different shows including Sufi, national, folkloric and Egyptian."













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