Dubai: Moments before the clock strikes to signal the call to prayer, a vintage cannon stands proudly.
Thrilled crowds gather around it, many of them children.
Five uniformed officers stand on both sides of the large-calibre gun.
They wait for the commander to give the “fire” signal, with the sound of the Adhan (call to prayer) from the nearby mosque, inviting worshippers to pray.
Then the commander’s order comes with a loud voice: “Cannon…fire.”
One of the soldiers manning the cannon lays his hand on one of the buttons. Then, split seconds later, comes a loud heart-stopping “BOOM”.
Sounds of Ramadan
The pigeons around it flap their wings in the air. The children clap for joy and delight over this wonderful scene.
The people then rush to take pictures with the cannon and the officers. They document the moment.
“This is the time of the year where friends and families come together on a daily basis to celebrate. We are excited to be a part of the experience, both for our visitors who are celebrating Ramadan as well as tourists who wish to see the heart-warming traditions of the holy month in Dubai.”
Reliving the past
For the officers, it's heart-warning to have a number of children who took pictures with them in the past, and this time visiting the Dubai Expo City this year with their old pictures of the same moment.
These pictures leave lasting memories. Fresh photos are taken. Copies of photos old and new are collected in an album — as many children and visitors have captured the same moment at different ages — often with with the same officer.
Special appreciation
The officer said they value the appreciation, and marks the significance of this Ramadan cannon firing tradition.
Major Abdullah Tarish Al Amimi, Commander of the Artillery Unit in the General Department of Protective Security and Emergency at Dubai Police, told Gulf News that he received a number of children with their parents to remind him of past Ramadans.
A boy, now 8 years old, brought a picture when he was about the age of 3, when he took his photo with the same officer who has been firing the Ramadan cannon — for the past eight years.
Attraction
Despite urban development, Ramadan cannons still attract many who passionately follow traditional, take pictures with them in remembrance of cultural heritage associated with Ramadan’s Iftar and Suhoor.
The Artillery Unit in the General Department of Protective Security and Emergency at Dubai Police is responsible for the cannons.
It has been observed in Arab countries for years, explained Major Al Amimi.
This year, Dubai Police have placed Iftar cannons at eight locations (seven fixed and one mobile which will move around 15 areas).
The idea of the traveling cannon came from the public’s observations that some of them like to watch the cannon — but they could not reach the place because of the distance.
The Dubai police chief then directed the team to set up the traveling cannon.
“We fire around 273 cartridges across Dubai during Ramadan and Eid from the eight cannons. Each cannon is fired twice in a row to announce Ramadan, once every day to announce Iftar and twice in a row to announce Eid and again twice on the morning of Eid, after Eid prayers.”
Rich in history
The use of cannons to announce Iftar is a Dubai tradition that actually dates back to the 1960s.
The Dubai Police cannons are British 25lbs (11kg) models, which were made in 1945. “We have had those cannons since the sixties and they undergo periodic maintenance,” Maj Al Amimi said.
This year, two French-made cannons which were built in 1894 and were used in two World Wars were used to mark the start of Ramadan in Dubai.
They were placed in Dubai Police Museum but is back in service for the first time to join the force’s collection of Ramadan cannons.
There are 8 cannons, and each cannon is assigned five officers, with a total of 40 officers on cannon duty.
Blank cartridge
The cannon fires a blank cartridge that only contains black powder, Maj Al Amimi said.
“However, people should never stand in front of the cannon, because it produces a loud sound and heat. A safe distance is around 25-30 metres away from the cannon, depending on the place”.
If it is closed and there are walls, there are certain criteria must be taken into account — including type of building, age of the building, the cannon must be 300 meters away.
The cannon’s opening is upwards, facing the sunset. The crew are opposite the barrel of the cannon. The cannon crew consist of five officers including chief of the firing crew, the assistant shooter; the weapon ceremonial guard monitors the security of the site. This year, there’s a change of the guards.
Then the officers instruct parents nearby to hold the children before firing. It is a great moment when you hear children shouting “Shoot … shoot …”
When the cannon is fired, the 160-decibel sound can be heard around 10km away.
Major Al Amimi said that their priority is securing the site.
“We have slogan ‘Safety and security’. Public safety is coming first … it’s our priority, then security.”
National duty
Major Al Amimi, has become a familiar face of the observation: “I’m proud to fire the cannon to announce the holy month and Iftar time. I feel so delighted to instil joy and happiness in the hearts of visitors.”
He has been firing Ramadan cannon for the past eight years.
“It is a national duty as well as seeking reward from Almighty Allah,” he said.
He did not break his fast with his family over the past eight years.
“Despite missed Iftar with [our] family members, it’s my job to fire the Ramadan cannon, and it’s great fun to make people and children happy while watching each moment.”
This year, the department trained new staff to fire Ramadan cannon for the next years.
“A new team is trained to fire the cannon. We conduct practices before the holy month of Ramadan until we [got] used to it.
