By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: Come Ramazan and Lucknow lives up to its tradition of offering Iftars to the rozedars. For past two centuries, the tradition of arranging Iftar for the devotees continues unabated in the old city. This Ramazan also arrangements for Iftar for 1200 people have been done by the Hussainabad and Allied Trust (HAT).
“The trust makes elaborate arrangements for Iftar of people. This is a tradition of Nawabi era and since the institution of the trust in 1839 it has been followed. People from all walks of life come together at the mosques and break their fast,” said Secretary, HAT and ADM OP Pathak. The trust is now headed by the District Magistrate (DM) Lucknow.
Rozedar breaking fast on first Ramzan at Lalbagh Masjid in Lucknow
The arrangements for the iftar are done at ten mosques which are maintained by the trust. The main mosques include Asafi Mosque, Hussainabad, Shahi Masjid, Hazratganj, Ghar Wali Masjid, Karbala Wali Masjid, Kofey Wali Masjid, Masjid at Raees Manzil, Shahnajaf Mosque etc. “We have made arrangements for Iftar of 1186 people in these mosques. People who offer their namaz at these mosques also relish the iftar,” said Pathak.
A look at the people who throng these mosques for Iftar reflects that they are not poor. All are well settled but prefer to break their fast in the mosque. “It gives us satisfaction if we break our fast in the mosque. For me it is also nostalgic as I used to visit the historical Asafi Mosque along with my father and now my son accompanies me,” said Saif Haider, a resident of Muftiganj. Muslim clerics also appreciate the tradition of breaking fast at mosques. “Once you are at a mosque, a feeling of sancity and religious fervour engulfs you and Ramzan teaches us the same thing. Combined iftars at mosques without any hierarchy also justify the essence of Islam,” said spokesperson, All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB).
The preparation for the Iftar of over one thousand people daily starts in the afternoon. Special cooks are hired and some are permanent employees of HAT who cook delicacies. Some readymade items are also procured from the market. “We keep it in mind to follow and respect the sanctity of Ramzan. The trust has special provision for the Iftar and everything is well accounted,” said Pathak.
Besides the Iftar, the trust also runs separate dinner cum Iftar service for the poor, destitute and widows during Ramzan. For them, the food is distributed from Chhota Imambara. The beneficiaries are provided a slip known as ‘chithi’ which they present redeeming it at the distribution counter in Chota Imambara.
Nawabu, a cook is once again busy these days as the whole responsibility of managing the preparation of rotis, sheermals, kababs and qorma rests with him. “I have been cooking here since I was a child. Earlier I used to assist my father and now I am responsible independently after him. It gives inner satisfaction when any hungry is fed,” he said.