Organizing Ramadan feast in your apartment community
The month of Ramadan is a spiritual time for people of Islamic faith. During this month they fast during the daylight hours, with fast beginning before sunrise and ending after sunset. The 30 days fast comes to an end with the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Ramadan the holy month also signifies the importance of social gathering and this is shown in their feasts that are attended by a large number of people. The Iftar or the process of breaking one’s fast is a joint affair that is held in mosques or homes or public places of gathering.
Organizing Ramadan feast in your apartment Community
If you live in an apartment community or housing society, you can conduct a Ramadan feast, inviting your neighbors and friends and everyone in your apartment or organizing Ramadan feast in community hall or clubhouse. Ramadan teaches unity and love among fellow humans and as such the feast can be attended by non-Muslims and people who do not observe the fast.
Decoration
Create an air of festivity in your apartment by decorating the place with colourful flowers, balloons, lights and banners that denote the celebration of Ramadan and carry greetings of Eid.
Get-Together Prayer
A joint prayer is common before breaking the fast, so set aside a space where the people who come for the feast can pray together. Also keep in mind that non-Muslims would be attending too, so have a place to accommodate them during the prayer time.
The Feast
The month of Ramadan and the following Eid celebrations are associated with trays of delicacies. Various menu choices are available for an exclusive Iftar buffet that feature traditional Ramadan cuisine and these include Ouzi, Hot & Cold Mezzeh, desserts, fruits and traditional Ramadan beverages.When setting the menu, take care to include vegetarian food for those that doesn’t take meat.
One way to ensure a delightful feast is to adopt the concept of progressive dinner. In order to do that, you should plan with your apartment neighbours and decide on the date, time, venue and menu. A progressive dinner usually consists of a starter, a main course and a dessert, and for the other two courses, the guests should visit the neighbours. This is an enjoyable way to get people to know each other as well as have a wide palate of delicacies. Since this type of dinner involves more than one host, it is advisable to plan with your neighbours and divide the dining time equally.
Charity (Zakat, Fitr)
Zakat is believed to be an important aspect of Islamic society. One can donate clothes and other provisions to the needy. You can also get together with the apartment association members and get together to host a meal for poor people, or you can provide a day’s meal at an orphanage.
Ramadan feast is a mark of spiritual reflection and sacrifice and thus should be conducted with such an air. It is a joyous occasion of bonding and rejoicing among people, irrespective of their religious backgrounds.
Things to remember while organizing Ramadan feast
- Ensure to organize a informal discussions or meetings to plan for the event like decoration, inviting residents, Menu for the feast etc.
- Ramadan signifies the importance of social gathering. While organizing ramadan feast, ensure the activities also entertain non-Muslim residents.
- When setting the menu or feast, take care to include a dedicated space for vegetarian food.
- You can also host a meal for poor or people at an orphanage.
- Ensure the Ramadan feast timing is convenience for the residents.
