Ramadan – time for fasting, feasting and social harmony

By Afzal Khan

Pune, 8th March 2025: Ramadan 2025 (1446 Hijri) has approached yet again, and not without sounding the bugle of social harmony, charity, chastity and unity – all of which is a part and parcel of the fasting month which is considered the holiest by Muslims.

A number of non-Muslims too are seen observing Ramadan in Pune by gifting fruits and food items at mosques and holding iftar parties in offices and at other places. I have heard some non-Muslims as saying: “This is brotherhood and good ‘karma’ (deed). We get the reward from God for this good deed of donating food items for Muslims to break their ‘roza’ (fast).”

Moreover, many people may be knowing the fact that a number of non-Muslims too observe the fast, if not for the full month, at least for one or two days, that is on the 21st and 27th of Ramadan – both days considered auspicious.

Another sphere that uncovers communal harmony during Ramadan, for instance, are the tasty stalls and restaurants at Kausar Baugh in Kondhwa, Babajan chowk in Pune Camp and Mominpura in Ganj Peth among others. Transcending the diversity of faiths, Punekars, along with friends and families, are seen converging on these hubs of gastronomic delights for iftar parties late at night. ‘Russian’ kebab, tandoori chicken, kaathi kebab, seekh-kebab with tandoor ki roti, Hyderabadi Haleem, biryani, Latur tahari… name the dish and it’s available – freshly cooked, hot and at reasonable rates. Among the favourite sweet dishes are maalpuwa and carrot or bottle gourd halwa, while Tahura is the hotly-chased cold drink!

Also lined up are vegetarian dishes like veg or corn samosa, veg cutlets chana-masala and shahi tukda, as well as milkshakes at these food joints.

“We wait for the whole year for these lovely dishes. Hyderabadi Haleem is my favourite and I have come here to eat that,” said young Christian woman from the northeast who had come with a friend to Kausar Baug.

“We will also carry home some kaathi kebabs for breakfast tomorrow,” she added while politely refusing to reveal her name, which does not matter at all.

Prince Choudhary, a journalist with Pune Times Mirror, and Shirish Shinde, another journalist with a news portal, have planned to meet me at Kausar Baugh. “Afzal bhai, we’re meeting for sure at Kausar Baugh this Ramadan soon. I want to have biryani and kaathi kebab with you,” said Prince, while Shirish, who never gives the place a miss during Ramadan, has said that he is gearing up for a visit and would let me know about the exact date shortly.

Month of fasting or feasting?

Asked about the confusion prevailing among some non-Muslims that the month of Ramadan is more about eating than fasting, Irfan Shaikh, owner of personality development and English coaching classes in Kondhwa, said, “Roza (fasting) means discipline. It starts at the break of dawn and ends after sunset. One has to abstain from food and water among other things for about 14 hours. It is challenging, especially during the summer heat. Don’t we have the right to eat after breaking the fast? We have to pray at night and also catch up on our sleep for a few hours. Nobody can keep eating for the whole night. I request people who think like this to observe the fast for a few days and know for themselves how challenging it is.”

Fahim Mullah, a senior citizen who is a diabetic and has been ailing for some time, said he regrets missing the roza this year. “However, as per the Islamic rules, I shall feed two poor people daily for every roza I miss. I am still optimistic about compensating the rozas after I get well. Most probably, when the weather is cooler, I will fast… God willing, otherwise the sick and infirm are exempt from fasting. God is merciful.”

Sharing and caring

Rahat Khan, a teacher, says Ramadan is the time when we get the chance to share food and delicacies with neighbours and relatives. “Sharing tasty foods brings about close bonding between neighbours and relatives, who may not be seeing each other due to the busy city life. This is the month when any grouse has to be forgotten and love promoted among each other.”

Nostalgia!

I remember very well that during my college days, two atheist friends of mine invited me for iftar to their house. It was a pleasant surprise for me to see neatly cut fruits, tasty samosas and cold drinks on the table. To my shock, they told me to offer namaz after I broke my fast and finished eating. So touched I was by their gesture that I could not control my tears. Someone has rightly said, “Making someone’s heart happy is real ‘dua’ (blessing) and using the tongue and lips are secondary.”

(The author is a media consultant and senior journalist. He has worked for The Times of India, Pune Times Mirror, Indian Express and leading English newspapers in the Gulf countries of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain)