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IFTAAR, DELICACIES & MORE... I
ftaar is a meal served at the end of the day during Ramadan to break the day’s fast. The other meal, which is taken in the morning (predawn) is called suhoor. HT City takes a look at iftaar evenings organised at traditional homes in the City of Nawabs.
Nawab Qambar Qaiser, general secretary Nawabeenai Avadh says, “Traditionally at iftaar the fast is broken with dates, salt water or a yogurt drink after Maghrib (evening) prayer. It is followed by a fullcourse meal comprising soups, salad, juices, fried snacks, appetizers and main dishes.”
In some places, the fullcourse meal is taken later in evening or even early morning. Iftaar is very much a social event involving family and community members. It is also common for people to host iftaar for others or gather as a community for a potluck. It is also common for people to share food with those less fortunate. The spiritual reward for charitable giving is considered to be especially significant during Ramadan.
Talking about the relevance of the holy month social activist, Mohd Tariq Khan adds, “The Holy Quran was revealed in the blessed month of Ramadan, which is the ninth month of Islamic calendar. It’s the month of giving and seeking blessings. Charity in all forms brings great rewards.
It is a month of solidarity, helping each other. Feeding others with Iftar is a great act of kindness. We must encourage each other to arrange iftaars and feed the needy to gain maximum from this blessed month.”
Nawab Masood and Jafar Mir Abdullah believe iftaar to be a family affair. “Once a day we get together to break the fast and talk on various issues. For us it should be healthy as well as traditional iftaari that starts with dates and ends with paan,” says Nawab Jafar Mir Abdullah.
With changing time many pledge to make iftaari not only filling but also healthy. A special range of healthy Ramadan recipes are also added to the menu of these traditional household. Advocate Syed Masoom Raza of Saltanat Manzil adds, “Earlier iftaari was more of sheermal-kabab, dahi phulki, pakoris, aaloo chaat,, suhal-shakhein and a variety
of items but today youngsters want more refreshing items on dastarkhwan like fresh juices, dates, fruits and baked stuff. Though it is good in a way but for us traditional iftaari is hands down winner.”
Actor Abbas Khan too echoes the same sentiments. “My father Amir Naqi Khan always wants traditional iftaari but I want more of healthy stuff instead of fried ones. But in Mumbai I miss all Lucknawi delicacies so I just gorge whenever I get them on my dastarkhwan.”