In the Spirit of Sharing

FEAST AFTER THE FAST

- RAJESHWARI KALYANAM

The auspicious month of Ramzan for Muslims is about prayers, fasting, sacrifice, love for fellow human beings be it friends and family or those in need, and it is about giving and sharing. The devout get up quite early in the morning to have food and offer their prayers marking the beginning of the fast for the day, and it is towards Iftar time after they break the fast that they get together with family and the dastar is filled with food, fruits and dates of course for nourishment. Over the years like everything else, even Ramzan leads itself to be that time of the year when economics of it all makes it a commercial affair with retail and food industry upping their ante to offer their best. But, in Hyderabadi homes it more or less remains an intimate affair, with a lot of sharing of food with neighbours and friends and then there are Iftar parties where invitations are extended to near and dear ones from all religions. Like every other festival, the month of Ramzan too in the city of Nizams is celebration of friendship and the syncretic culture popularly known as the Ganga Jamuni tehzeeb.

For long Hyderabadis have celebrated their festivals together. Late legendary musician Pandit Jasraj who hails from this city, had shared his childhood memories of celebrating Holi when all that mattered was enjoying and revelling in the spirit where all friends and neighbours would participate irrespective of religion.

Ramzan too, which is infact more about fasting rather than feasting -involves sharing of food - with friends joining the Iftar, food being sent out to neighbours in beautiful ceramic bowls covered in embroidered lace napkins, and fruits and food being distributed to the poor and needy at the mosques, orphanages and hospitals etc.