Iftar: Breaking the Fast

This month, some of our friends and fellow co-workers are observing Ramadan. Muslims all across the globe take part in this month of fasting by not eating or drinking anything from dawn until sunset.

Fasting is meant to teach the person patience, sacrifice and humility. Ramadan is a time to fast for the sake of God, and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramadan Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance into the future, ask for help in refraining from everyday evils and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds. - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

During this month of observance, our office hours have shifted slightly, but the lives of our friends and co-workers have shifted a bit more. They wake with their families early in the morning and take part in Suhoor, which is their morning meal before sun up. In the evenings, the fast is broken by Iftar. This meal is often done as a community, and traditionally a date is the first thing to be consumed.

The photos above are from an Iftar Feast with VTEAM members in Lahore.

The end of Ramadan is marked by Eid-ul-Fitr, and since it's based on the first site of the new moon, the dates change each year (more on that a little later). This year the Eid holiday will fall on October 1 - October 3, 2008.


Tomara


My reading mentioned that the fast is broken with dates and water or sometimes Rooh Afza (which appears to be some sort of fruit drink), but nowhere did it mention Pepsi :-). I believe, that from the markings on the bottle (the cresent moon), it is probably a popular beverage during this time as well.