Ramazan brings Pindiites together

Rawalpindi
Ramazan has been a great opportunity for Pindiites of every locality to share values of generosity and kindness with others, especially their neighbours.
“I do not invite everyone to 'iftar', just the closest neighbour. I'm cordial, generous and friendly and maintain good behaviour and modesty as Ramazan is the month of religious celebration,” says Husnain from Arya Mohallah.
“There are fewer things that unite human beings easier than sharing 'iftar' meal with your neighbours. I enjoy the increased opportunities Ramazan offers to spend time and strengthen bonds with my uncle and auntie’s families and friends,” says Hasan Imam, a resident of Javed Colony.
Professor Fazl-e-Shabbir, a resident of Dhoke Farman Ali, said: "One of the main benefits of Ramazan is an increased compassion for those in need of the necessities of life. Not only did this act make me a compassionate human being, but also opened up the lines of communication, appreciation, and understanding between me and the residents of my locality -- something so important, especially in this day and age.”
“For the past several years, I have been preparing and delivering ‘iftar’ dishes to my neighbors as a way of spreading the Ramazan cheer and spirit; this year also I continued the tradition. I made an assorted mix of traditional savories and sweets, including chicken ‘tikka’ with ‘raita’, spinach ‘pakoras’, ‘cholay’, fresh fruit ‘chaat’ and dates," says Fatima Noor, resident of Rahim Abad.
“I always wrapped up the dishes sent to the neighbours with cloth cover and wished a Happy Ramazan from our family.
My children loved going door to door, carefully balancing each dish and beaming with excitement as they rang doorbells. Our neighbors were delighted with the gesture and were happy we remembered them in celebrating holy month of Ramazan,” added Fatima.
“If you haven’t already done so this Ramazan, please try to share something with your neighbors -- be it ‘samosas’, ‘channa’ or fruit ‘chaat’, ‘pakoras’, vegetable rolls or dates, not necessarily mouth-watering ‘kababs’, ‘mughlai tikkas’ and ‘palao gosht’. You too, will feel closer to your neighbors and develop a better understanding,” said Moharram Ali, living in Dhoke Rlahi Bakhsh.
“During Ramazan, I pay special attention to charity giving and helping others. I make effort to renew intentions to give more time and money throughout the coming year than in the previous year. Working with the vulnerable and needy was core part of my parents' advice in Ramadan and my emphasis is even greater on their counsel now,” said Shafaat Hussain Naqvi from Kohistan Colony.
“'Iftars' generally bring people together. Although over the time, the iftar has changed in character and turned into a status symbol instead of what it really stands for, I have always been encouraged by my elders to reach out to the poor, and to share ‘iftar’ with them in Ramazan," said Taaj Haider from Sir Syed Chowk.
Batool from Dhoke Piran Fiqaran said: “Ramazan is a good time to build bridges, to come together and share ‘iftar’ meal; to talk and to recognise the significance of social cohesion.
It is also a time to be spent with family members and the broader community.”
“It is also a time for self-reflection, for strengthening social ties, for giving to the people in need, and for encouraging each other to be charitable by reflecting on the hardship of those less fortunate. Such occasions have the capacity to increase understanding and further break down social barriers,” added Batool.