Saturday marked the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, a month of daytime fasting for Muslims around the world. From sunrise to sunset Muslims abstain from eating or drinking, including chewing gum or cigarettes. It’s a month of self-control and self-reflection as well as a month of ‘being extra nice’ and staying away from all things haraam. But the nicest thing I remember from the month of Ramadan, is of course, the food.
It’s customary to break the fast together at sundown with a meal called iftaar. Tables are laden with dates, fruits, nuts; the hosts prepare their most elaborate dishes, such as biryani, homemade couscous or a leg of lamb…My mother would vie to be one of the first to host the Saturday iftaar. She would say that there is great blessing in feeding a person who is fasting. She would toil singlehandedly in our kitchen for days to prepare a meal that would feed at least 100 people. For women like my mother, an immigrant from India, a potluck was unthinkable, counter to everything she had been taught about hospitality.
Most of the people from our center were from Hyderabad, India, and the weekly meals were remarkably similar. First, we would break our fast with appetizers: samosas, channa daal, dahi bades, fruit chaat, rosewater milk, and of course the requisite date (with pits). After the sunset prayer and with a sated stomach, we would dive into the biryani, curries and kebabs. We’d top off our meal with kheer, a rice pudding-like dish, and chai.[link]
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p>Growing up in my parents house we had a similar spread with an additional spattering of pakoras, muri, juices, and fried eggplant. When we lived in Saudi Arabia, a country of scheduled nap times and stores open from 6pm to 4am during Ramadan, the food spread was even more spectacular at iftaar time — the small shacks would fill the streets with aromas of fresh bread, sharmas and other savories. But now, since living on my own, making an iftar feast for myself always seemed rather pointless. Not to mention that I can’t really cook. Iftar this week has been dates, water, and whatever cereal is in the cupboard.
Last night while grumpily eating my cereal, I vowed to break fast with at least one ‘traditional’ item for the rest of Ramadan — I have even toyed with the idea of having an iftaar potluck for my friends. Luckily there are plenty of websites out there to help me out with recipes: Iranian Iftar, Arab Iftar, and of course, Desi Iftar. Drooling yet? I am and I’m heading to the kitchen with these recipes in hand for tonight’s iftar. To all that are fasting, Ramadan Mubarak!
Most of the people from our center were from Hyderabad, India, and the weekly meals were remarkably similar. First, we would break our fast with appetizers: samosas, channa daal, dahi bades, fruit chaat, rosewater milk, and of course the requisite date (with pits). After the sunset prayer and with a sated stomach, we would dive into the biryani, curries and kebabs. We’d top off our meal with kheer, a rice pudding-like dish, and chai.
Yummm. Hyderabadis know how to eat in style.
But now, since living on my own, making an iftar feast for myself always seemed rather pointless, not to mention that I can’t really cook. Iftar this week has been dates, water, and whatever cereal is in the cupboard.
This is semi-sad. Yeah living in the west we are accordied freedom of all, and its released the creative potential of scores of people. but something is also lost: we’ve to east cereal alone and recall our mothers’ cooking.
there are few things as beautiful as the camaraderie i saw among the devout at this time of the year while in university. even i was inspired to fast a couple of times – felt cleansed for having done so – spiritually as well as physically. just this elation and sense of accomplishment. but have to confess … it was hard!!! so Tazmina..!! a topee off to you for your faith. you are more beautiful for it.
a ramadan mubarak to you.
that blog made my little navarathri tummy hungry…excellent post!! ramadan mubarak!
taz… i did not mean any disrespect by sharing my experience.. i didnt share this even with my palestinian buddies at that time because i felt my little experiments were banal compared to their spiritual journey. i just have the highest regard for those with such fortitude. another religious pilgrimage i would want to be part of some day is that to sabarimali.
Biryani…mmmm….
Al hamdulillah! Blessings and forgiveness in this holy month to Sepia Mutiny readers of all religious persuasions.
Including, and especially, the apostates (like me) and atheists.
Ramadan Mubarak, Taz! Try using a crockpot to let something stew all day, so that it’s waiting to reward you for your fast at eventide.
No disrespect whatsoever! All through life, I’ve had plenty of non-Muslim friends, and it was always great when a few of them would fast with me in solidarity. I even had a friend when I was living the lone Muslim girl life in DC, not just fast with me, but go with me to EID prayer.
In fact, I challenge the whole mutiny to partake in one day of fasting with me this Ramadan! It really is quite cool.
Why do I get the feeling that muslims (myself included) eat more during Ramadan than any other month?
sure kid. i’m game for tomorrow. ooo… does that mean coffee is out as well :-/ ok. which pretty much means i better get my muai thai session in today. egad! ciao.
Why not? I might give that a shot this weekend.
Just to make sure you all know what you’re getting in to – there’s no food, no water, and no sex, all day.
Mmm, I’m hungry. Good post. Nirali did a story on some alternatives to the traditional Ramadhan iftari back in 2004 (sorry that story isn’t converted to our new archives yet, though I have to admit I’m a sucker for the traditional stuff. Now that I’m nowhere near home, I feel your pain, Taz. Pizza, anyone?
But here’s the weirdest thing: My mother likes to mix milk and Coke and drink it during iftari! It is utterly nasty, but she loves it and claims it gives her strength. What the heck?! Is this a desi thing? Are there other brownies out there who have experienced this bizarre concoction?
On my last visit to Hyderabad I was kinda underwhelmed by their version of Biriyani, but was totally blown away by their dessert — Qubani Ka Meetha, which when served with ice-cream is absolutely delicious.
I thought it might have something to do with Qurbani (“sacrifice”) and perhaps had a religious significance (such as the sweet with which you break your fast or something); but apparently it doesn’t.
Aw, it’s not that bad. Everything resumes at sunset. 😉
Coke and milk? Ewww, no!
But my mom this weekend made this rosewater drink and put these slimy seeds in it, seeds that looked like mini little nemo eggs. I didn’t drink it.
I’ll be in SF this weekend, if anyone wants to have iftar with me!
i’m hungry.
that post made my little navratan stomach hungry…
Hih, hih. I’ll bet all the people declaring hunger here are on the West Coast.
west coast brown rox!
I’m down since I really can cook. 🙂
abishek,
muslims can not take food prepared by pagans 🙂
Heard on the street today in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn:
Boy, about 13, with heavy school bag, to other boy walking with him: “Man, I got too much homework. And I’m fasting!”
To him and all of y’all, Ramadan Mubarak!
But what about sell-out pagans? 🙂
Your post reminded me of my trip to Egypt two years ago during Ramadan. The streets of Cairo were deserted right before sundown when everyone was praying, and once prayer was over, everyone came pouring into the streets and restaurants that were serving iftar. One night,we were took the train to Abu Simbel and shared a compartment with three men. After they prayed, they broke out enough food for a family of 8 and invited me and my travel partner to partake. I remembered eating dates doused in rose water, figs, and some fried samosa-like pasty. yum. Ramadan mubarak indeed.
Sweet.
NYC is too damn cool.
i might have had a SHARMA once but i don’t kiss and tell.
(is that an actual food, as well as a Northie??? i’ve heard of shaWArmas, but not…”sharmas”)
I always felt that shaWArmas was weird way of saying it when I got back to the US – an anglo way, just the way Gyros is Americanized – in Jubail, KSA, they always said it on the streets as “shaar-ma.”
Oye Yaar…..yeh to Punjaaabeee style hain bolne ki.
Samjha karo putar
I’m not sure the aroma of Sharma is all that desirable.
Ramzaan mubarak (drop the d, baby), Taz.
Am i mistaken….or am i seeing things…..you speak of all veggie food.
All the iftars i have been to have been choc a bloc with meat delicacies……
thats the real deal !!…………
qubani… or my mum calls it khu’mani… is dried apricot. there was someone raving about qubani ka meetha and double ka meetha (like bread or dubulroti pudding) the other day. get your hands up! get your hands up!
and ennis… no sex… no problem… but i guess it means no SM as well… dohh…
the hardest part is to keep the mind from drifting. so either one needs to utterly concentrate on one thing, or just put so much on one’s calendar that one is busy from daybreak to sundown. well let’s see.
Are there other
browniesout there who have experienced this bizarre concoction?iz brownz
Laverne & Shirley? Or was that milk and pepsi…
I swear there is a pool of drool on my keyboard right now. Ah.. the biryani and qubani ka meeta… . Hyderabadis sure know how to celebrate their festivals especially Vinayak Chaturti, Sankranti and Ramzan. There is an energy in the air that totally awesome.
During Ramzan all the Irani chai hotels also sell haleem in the evenings and some of those places have been around for generations. Its a rite of passage for every kid to learn how to make condescending and all knowing remarks about the subtle differences between biryani and haleem in all the various joints. And trust me, I was a connoisieur of haleem during ramzan, not that I ever fasted 🙂 , which also din’t prevent me from landing up at my friend’s houses on time for iftaar.
Taz – I totally get your mom’s efforts to host a perfect iftaar party and thats why they say, ” Once a Hyderabadi always a Hyderabadi”. Can I get an invite?
Another thing I remember is that the front page of newspapers everyday would have pictures of some politician with a bunch of muslim folks with the captions : President/Prime Minister/ Chief Minister…. hugging so and so guest at the iftaar party he hosted yesterday. Photo Ops Indian ishtyle
amen riz! brownz is even in wikipedia!
PG/BS – I think the Hyderabad thing is a quote, I don’t think that’s Taz’s family, she’s Bangladeshi.
I’ll have you know that I just came back from my iftar feast for one – and I made chicken pakoras. Recipe via a nagging call to mom 15 minutes before ‘time.’ With some chana and dates on the side.
But it’s JUST not fun breaking fast by yourself…
Ah crap, but what the hell, i’ll even eat those abominations called bengali sweets if I can get to eat biryani before.
Ennis – Why do u say PG/BS?
amen riz! brownz is even in wikipedia!
hooray!
Dear Ismat,
You run a lovely magazine. Given your influence, we implore you to use great prudence when labelling the community. With due respect, “brownies” is an abomination. It was decided, some time back, on this very blog as a matter of fact, that “brownz” would be the normative term used signify the ppl of the subcontinent. Please remember this, as we, the brownz, have little in the way of resources to notify the community of our decision.
Happy Ramadan
Ramadan Mubarak!
Here is a thought. Is there a mosque/masjid near you? I used to just hop into one just before maghrib, pray, eat lots of the yummy food they had, smile at some of the people, and leave, tummy full, feeling less lonely.
The masjid I used to go to had a donation box that they used to pay for the iftars, such as getting the food, or supplies. So I felt like I was supporting the masjid, not being a total freeloader, but also getting some delicious food after a day of fasting.
I agree that it’s so much easier to cook to break fast if you aren’t alone.
I remember in college all the Muslim guys I knew would sleep all day during Ramadan, then eat (A LOT) and study during the night…they all would gain like 10 lbs that month every year.
if you don’t know already, universities all across the nation are participating in the Ramadan fast-a-thon. The local university MSA (Muslim Student Association) chapters ask all students (Muslim and non-Muslim) to sign up to fast for one day. Then local businesses pledge to donate money to a local food bank or such for each person who fasts. That’s pretty cool =).
A Chicago meetup for Eid?
Ramadan Mubarak! Btw, when did it become Ramadan, when I was a kid, it was pronounced ‘Ramzan’. Is -dan Arabic, and -zan Urdu and other North Indian languages?
Also, if you want to try rose-water milk, go out to your local desi grocery store and buy a bottle of Rooh Afza. Mix around a tbsp. of that with milk, and you have rose-water milk.
I stand corrected; please accept my humble apologies. Though I’m certain you use the word “influence” in the loosest way, I will do my small part to make sure that I now refer to members of our lovely community as “brownz.” I like that much better myself, actually. I only used “brownies” while I was typing my comment quickly–the word was in my head since a fellow macaca (!) had employed it in my presence recently. By the way, risible, email me, wouldya?
Oh, and mmm, Rooh Afza. Haven’t had that in ages!
Yup. In both Arabic and Urdu, the word “Ramadhan” is spelled with a dhal; it’s the same letter but pronounced differently. In Urdu, you make the “Z” sound for that letter, while in Arabic, they don’t have the “Z” sound–it’s more of “Dh” sort of like the sound in the word “the.” Technically, the correct pronunciation is the Arabic “Ramadhan” but, hey, all my Urdu speaking brownz (including myself) say Ramazan. It’s just that when you’re addressing a non-Muslim audience, it seems more appropriate to use the correct Arabic.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115939378863475929.html?mod=opinion_main_europe_asia
on a completely different note… abu salem is standing for elections in india!!!!!
The worst is a year where I had to break fast most days while in a seminar. No delicous iftar food for me, but a cliff bar and a bottle of OJ (dates are too sticky to try and eat while taking notes). Talk about anti-climactic fast breaking!
Ramadan Karrim!
Too bad I can’t work off the Ramadan weight gain with a little garba though (mutton eater that I am): http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1806153,000900040001.htm 😉
Taz,
Off-topic, but you should read White Mughals which I’ve plugged a couple of times on SM before (no I’m not getting paid commission for it, despite appeareances !). It’s all about the British Resident in 1800 and his involvement with the Hyderabad royal court. Fascinating reading; I didn’t know a huge amount about Hyderabad before I started reading the book and it’s very interesting finding out about the region’s history, especially the Mughal influence. I didn’t know the latter was so pronounced, or that historically the place was famous for it. Obviously I’ve never visited the city but I plan to do so now.
It sounds like “falooda”. I love that stuff. It’s available at a lot of Indian restauants here in London.
Anyway: A heartfelt Ramadan Mubarak to you and all the other Muslims on SM.
Damn you, Razib !!!
Taz and all other practicing Muslims: Happy “Ramzan”. I could promise to fast for a day, but not sure if I can stay hungry all day. On the other hand Abhi’s mom told me that coincidentally this year NAVRATRI and RAMAZAN started on the same day. She fasts for eight nites, and after “Durga Puja” on the eigth day she can eat everything. I can’t wait for the nite of DurgaAshtami, so we all can get back to normal dinner. Razib and all other Atheists: For a moment forget “Paak Muslims”, “Infidels”, “Pagans”, etc… The ancient Ayurveda as well as most modern doctors says fasting a day or two in a week is good for your health – if not for your soul!!
Ramadan sucks! That is, the Expat-Christian-living-in-the-Middle-East version of it. Three bottles of Scotch, three bottles of wine, two bottles of Vodka, one bottle of Cognac, two crates of beer; that is my entire liquor-stock for Ramadan. I know that I won’t run out; I never do. But, there’s always the odd brother, on a visit-visa, with no liquor-permit, wanting to live a little. Denying a hard-working man his drink is a sin that sits right on the border between venial and mortal (Book of Psalms, Mallu version); so, everyone helps everyone. Also, there is bound to be the odd “surprise party” that can mess with your planning.
Watching Football will be pure misery from now on till the end of the holy month. The loudest, “most happening”, pubs will be reduced to a bunch of responsible adults sitting quietly as they watch Footie like it’s a “gentleman’s game”. No amount of “Diet-Coke-on-the-rocks” will elicit supportive “Go Reds” or “No, you Wan**r” from the faithful fans. Strangely, post-match appetites will shrink remarkably. No more “can I have two double whoppers with cheese and extra onions please, mate?” Needless to say, without the alcoholic haze, the “hot bird” you bumped into just last week at the club becomes the matronly Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson who teaches History at the University; that can be very disappointing, trust me. The good part is that the roads are empty when I drive to the Health Club at 5 pm. But, for me Ramadan sucks:( Nevertheless, Happy Ramadan to all devout macacas out there. Peace
Note: This post is along the lines of “I hate rain, and I’m stuck inside” rather than “I hate this fundamentalist blah blah blah.”
While growing up in Bihar and UP. I used to stuff myself all day and pop across to any Muslim friend during Ifrar. It was good.
I don’t know if you lot know this but these days Hindus and others are throwing Iftar parties. This after they have stuffed themselves all day!! I was in UP last year and attended 2 myself – both hosted by Hindus, one was my uncle who I stayed with!!!
Even celebs and political elite are doing it now.
I personally never bothered to know what it was all about – but its some kind of fashion statement now.