Interfaith iftar parties bring communities together in Raipur

There’s sheer khurma, keema samosas, flavoured rice, kebabs, vegetarian dishes and mutton stew, spread alongside fruit bowls and rose sherbet, across a beautiful Persian carpet at Juvaria Khan’s home in Raipur . She has rolled out the lavish spread for her interfaith iftar party, where she has invited her friends and neighbours.

“A lot of polarisation and hatred is being normalised across the world. I want to use iftar to bring people together to break bread and learn something about one another’s culture,,” says Juvaria, who teaches English at a local school.

A step towards harmony

Like her, this Ramzan, quite a few families in the city are extending an invite to their friends and neighbours for inter-faith parties, where food is exchanged with dollops of love. “Rich or poor, high or low, Hindu or Muslim, iftar brings everyone together in unity. The holy month of Ramzan is just another excuse for us to spread love and brotherhood. We Indians know so little about one another’s cultural backgrounds, hence the hostility thrives. To break this barrier, an interfaith iftar party is a step forward, I feel,” says Muzzammil Qamar, who is an engineer by profession. He adds, “We have kept a vegetarian iftar spread for our friends and neighbours – that includes paneer pakoras, veg seekh kebabs, malpua, poori-halwa and chana chaat. All the food items have been made at home.”

Iftar, organised with love by non-Muslims

While the Muslim community is happy to invite their friends and neighbours over for the interfaith iftars, members from the Hindu community are also organising special iftar parties for their friends. “Our country has been weaved with the idea of unity in diversity. It takes just one gesture to show that we are all one, and that we support one another. So, why leave behind an opportunity to bridge the gap? My family has been proudly organising iftar parties for five years now and we are invited to our Muslim brothers’ homes during Diwali. This year, we have kept a theme as well, which is the 70s. So, the women are expected to wear 70s Bollywood-style sarees and makeup, while men have to sport salwar kameezes. We will also give return gifts to our guests, which will include attar,” says Ajay Shukla, a businessman from the city.

From sumptous main courses to decadent desserts

Dates are of high importance and are a part of the feast, as Prophet Mohammad is believed to have opened his fast with three dates. A wide spread of vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian dishes are served at these parties. Dry fruits, fruits, juices, sherbats, and milk form a major part of iftar. Different varieties of desserts are the centre of attraction for many, with shahi tukda and kheer being the most popular.
“There was one huge thali, with delicacies like dry fruits, dates, fruits, cutlets, kebabs and, of course, the sumptuous mutton korma and roti. It was followed by a stream of desserts like blackberry phirni, pineapple sheera and the traditional kheer. It was not just the meal but the company of open-minded people and the warmth of the hosts, that made the evening amazing for me.”