Welcoming Ramadan

Ramadan is a special time for Muslims all over the world. Everything and everyone is relaxed during this time and people try to be more considerate  towards each other during the month of fasting. We become more lenient when it comes to deadlines in work places, and we all take a long break during iftar. Weekend Independent caught up with people from all walks of life to learn what they do during iftar and sehri time in this bustling city.
“There is something oddly satisfying waiting for the sound of prayer to let you know it is time for you to break your fast. I try to make it a get-together time for my family. We all extend a hand while making the iftar and we all sit together with our plates heaped with traditional iftar menu, eagerly waiting to take the first bite,” says Sarah Zaheen, a senior lecturer at a private university.
“We also eat out a lot. Usually hotels and restaurants have iftar platters which serve a decent amount of food and some places offer ‘all you can eat’ deals. Who would want to miss that? I am very busy throughout the week, but on weekends I try to make time to organise an iftar party for friends and family. Although I buy some of the food from shops, I try to make most of the items at home. It is not always possible to make 20 items at home like I have seen my mom do, so I prefer taking a rickshaw and riding down the lanes of Dhanmondi to see what iftar items are being sold in stalls outside every fast-food place and restaurant of the area. And there are many things available, but you have to go early as most will be sold out an hour or so before iftar. It makes me wonder, people must buy a lot of items everyday from these temporary stalls,” said Zaheen.
Rabeya Islam, a homemaker, assures us that not all traditions and norms are changing: “We make all the iftar items at home everyday. It is a tradition in our household. My mother-in-law and I, along with others all contribute towards preparing iftar and we all enjoy it a lot. Sometimes, ‘halim’ and ‘jilapi’ are brought from outside, but we even prepare all the food for iftar parties that we host at home.”
SM Mahamudul, a student of Dhaka University who lives in a dormitory, told the Weekend Independent: “Hall iftar is very simple. Residents of two to three rooms all contribute an equal amount of money and we buy the food from temporary stalls that are set by the canteen people at the hall gates. As the items are being sold within the university premises, they are very reasonably priced and we all sit together to eat. It is an enjoyable time for all of us. Some students do not fast, but we also invite them to sit with us during iftar.”
“The first sehri is very special and also very exciting,” Mahamudul continued. “We all collect money from anyone who is interested to join the middle-of-the-night feast and we all participate in the preparation of the feast. We cook chicken curry, fish, bhorta and many other items and wait eagerly for the sehri time. We also eat out, but the students of DU tend to stick to nearby places. We usually go to Mama Hotel in Nilkhet, Star Hotel _ the new one that opened near Eastern Mollika Supermarket, and of course, the legendary Nanna Biriyani House. I just love their iftar items. They serve the traditional peyaju, beguni and chickpeas cooked with small pieces of potatoes. Many also go to Aftab Hotel located near Chankharpool.”
Ta-Seen Anannya, who works as a newsroom editor for an online news portal, talked about the new items that are quickly becoming popular iftar picks: “People are now trying different cuisines as iftar items. Sonargaon Hotel usually comes up with amazing middle-eastern items and I just love the food there. Whenever I invite guests over, I buy many of the items from Pitha Ghor. Their food is good and reasonably priced and also Mehdi Mart arranges a wide array of iftar items for the picking. I have two toddlers and very little help, so I opt to get things done quickly. I hardly get time to prepare iftar with 10 items, like I have seen my mother and grandmother do. They used to start preparing for iftar from 3:30pm and everyday, as long as I can remember, we had a table full of food by iftar time. It would have been great if I could do the same. But alas! Times have changed and I cannot do things the way they were done.”
For those who must work through iftar time, a quick, shared meal is often the only option. “I have to work  till night, so I cannot go home to have iftar with my family,” said Mohammad Bablu, manager of an apartment complex in Banani. “Though we get allowance and a short break, I, along with some drivers here who are also on duty, we all go to the nearby mosque for iftar. Many people send food there and everything is mixed up, even savories and sweets, and then evenly distributed. We all eat together and say our prayers together. It’s wonderful, it helps us cope with missing iftar time with our families.”
The Weekend also talked to some popular hotels and restaurants around the city about their special Ramadan offers.
In a telephone conversation, Salman Kabir, assistant director of marketing of Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka, said: “Usually we come up with middle-eastern cuisines during Ramadan, but this time we are offering a great deal more. We are extremely happy to present our special Pacific Rim promotion during this year’s Ramadan. Like every year, we look forward to welcoming guests and families who not only want to break their holy fast with appetising delicacies, but to share some quality time with each other.”
Fast food franchises like Nandos are offering special iftar platters or ‘two meals for the price of one’ for Ramadan. Many also have arrangements for sehri that start from 10pm and run till early morning everyday.
Last but not least, let us not forget the famous old town iftar delicacies. With hundreds of items to choose from, including the ever popular ‘Boro Baaper Polae Khae’, many still rush to Old Dhaka to get their favourite items, while some traditional eateries in places like Baily Road conveniently offer choice items from the old town.

Welcoming Ramadan

Ramadan is a special time for Muslims all over the world. Everything and everyone is relaxed during this time and people try to be more considerate towards each other during the month of fasting. We become more lenient when it comes to deadlines in work places, and we all take a long break during iftar. Weekend Independent caught up with people from all walks of life to learn what they do during iftar and sehri time in this bustling city. There is something oddly satisfying waiting for the sound of prayer to let you know it is time for you to break your fast. I try to make it a get-together time for my family. We all extend a hand while making the iftar and we all sit together with our plates heaped with traditional iftar menu, eagerly waiting to take the first bite, says Sarah Zaheen, a senior lecturer at a private university. We also eat out a lot. Usually hotels and restaurants have iftar platters which serve a decent amount of food and some places offer all you can eat deals. Who would want to miss that? I am very busy throughout the week, but on weekends I try to make time to organise an iftar party for friends and family. Although I buy some of the food from shops, I try to make most of the items at home. It is not always possible to make 20 items at home like I have seen my mom do, so I prefer taking a rickshaw and riding down the lanes of Dhanmondi to see what iftar items are being sold in stalls outside every fast-food place and restaurant of the area. And there are many things available, but you have to go early as most will be sold out an hour or so before iftar. It makes me wonder, people must buy a lot of items everyday from these temporary stalls, said Zaheen. Rabeya Islam, a homemaker, assures us that not all traditions and norms are changing: We make all the iftar items at home everyday. It is a tradition in our household. My mother-in-law and I, along with others all contribute towards preparing iftar and we all enjoy it a lot. Sometimes, halim and jilapi are brought from outside, but we even prepare all the food for iftar parties that we host at home. SM Mahamudul, a student of Dhaka University who lives in a dormitory, told the Weekend Independent: Hall iftar is very simple. Residents of two to three rooms all contribute an equal amount of money and we buy the food from temporary stalls that are set by the canteen people at the hall gates. As the items are being sold within the university premises, they are very reasonably priced and we all sit together to eat. It is an enjoyable time for all of us. Some students do not fast, but we also invite them to sit with us during iftar. The first sehri is very special and also very exciting, Mahamudul continued. We all collect money from anyone who is interested to join the middle-of-the-night feast and we all participate in the preparation of the feast. We cook chicken curry, fish, bhorta and many other items and wait eagerly for the sehri time. We also eat out, but the students of DU tend to stick to nearby places. We usually go to Mama Hotel in Nilkhet, Star Hotel _ the new one that opened near Eastern Mollika Supermarket, and of course, the legendary Nanna Biriyani House. I just love their iftar items. They serve the traditional peyaju, beguni and chickpeas cooked with small pieces of potatoes. Many also go to Aftab Hotel located near Chankharpool. Ta-Seen Anannya, who works as a newsroom editor for an online news portal, talked about the new items that are quickly becoming popular iftar picks: People are now trying different cuisines as iftar items. Sonargaon Hotel usually comes up with amazing middle-eastern items and I just love the food there. Whenever I invite guests over, I buy many of the items from Pitha Ghor. Their food is good and reasonably priced and also Mehdi Mart arranges a wide array of iftar items for the picking. I have two toddlers and very little help, so I opt to get things done quickly. I hardly get time to prepare iftar with 10 items, like I have seen my mother and grandmother do. They used to start preparing for iftar from 3:30pm and everyday, as long as I can remember, we had a table full of food by iftar time. It would have been great if I could do the same. But alas! Times have changed and I cannot do things the way they were done. For those who must work through iftar time, a quick, shared meal is often the only option. I have to work till night, so I cannot go home to have iftar with my family, said Mohammad Bablu, manager of an apartment complex in Banani. Though we get allowance and a short break, I, along with some drivers here who are also on duty, we all go to the nearby mosque for iftar. Many people send food there and everything is mixed up, even savories and sweets, and then evenly distributed. We all eat together and say our prayers together. Its wonderful, it helps us cope with missing iftar time with our families. The Weekend also talked to some popular hotels and restaurants around the city about their special Ramadan offers. In a telephone conversation, Salman Kabir, assistant director of marketing of Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka, said: Usually we come up with middle-eastern cuisines during Ramadan, but this time we are offering a great deal more. We are extremely happy to present our special Pacific Rim promotion during this years Ramadan. Like every year, we look forward to welcoming guests and families who not only want to break their holy fast with appetising delicacies, but to share some quality time with each other. Fast food franchises like Nandos are offering special iftar platters or two meals for the price of one for Ramadan. Many also have arrangements for sehri that start from 10pm and run till early morning everyday. Last but not least, let us not forget the famous old town iftar delicacies. With hundreds of items to choose from, including the ever popular Boro Baaper Polae Khae, many still rush to Old Dhaka to get their favourite items, while some traditional eateries in places like Baily Road conveniently offer choice items from the old town.