Tradition of ‘iftari’ distribution revived amid lockdown
PRAYAGRAJ: Even though lockdown has taken away Ramzan’s liveliness and lustre, it is helping Muslims to revive the old traditions that were once followed with vigour.
One such tradition was to prepare surplus ‘iftari’ and send it to neighbours and less fortunate families residing in the locality. This year due to the ongoing lockdown, many families are bringing to life this otherwise dwindling practice.
“It was a sign of love and respect for neighbours and an opportunity to help the poor ones, those who were unable to prepare enough dishes to break their fasts,” says Khursheed Akbari, a retired teacher.
“Women of the family used to prepare ‘iftari’. An array of dishes, including fried gram, fritters and a variety of non-vegetarian dishes were prepared. Then children were sent to give trays full of ‘iftari’ food to neighbours and others in the locality. Special trays with fruits and ‘sharbat’ were reserved for those visiting the nearby mosques and aged persons who lived alone. However, this tradition was gradually fading as people now have no time to prepare ‘iftari’. Fewer joint families and emerging fast food options further contributed to the killing this tradition,” says Akbari.
“The ‘iftaris’ sent to other households also displayed the cooking skills of women of a family. They used to have an unsaid cooking competition,” says 60-year-old homemaker Afroz Begum.
Reminiscing her childhood days, she recalled an aged couple in her locality who were the first ones to receive ‘iftari’ from her family, each day during the entire month of Ramzan.
“While the tradition was coming to an end, lockdown gave us a chance to revive it. This year people are getting ample of time to spend in the kitchen,” says Shehnaz Jahan, a teacher.