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Iftar is all about food, fun for this Pakistani family

Dubai - The alluring evening was concluded with a fresh cup of green tea which they make sure to have after Iftar.

Warm welcome and hearty greetings by this Pakistani family living in Karama made for an angelic evening. Though they are settled in Dubai for more than 25 years, the roots of the family are still in Karachi. The whole environment was filled with aromatic flavours. Sahar Khan, the lady of the house, was still frying fritters (pakoras). It was around 6.45pm - Magrib (an evening prayer) happening at the nearest Mosque - made the moment more magical. Soon the dishes were laid on the dining table but we were waiting for the clock to tick 7.09pm for Iftar.
The bable looked colourful and yummy with food all over. Juices, fruit chaat, dahi vada (fritters dipped in yoghurt), spaghetti, choley (black chickpeas fried in spices), aloo pakoras (potato fritters), samosas (fried dish with savoury fillings) were prepared to break the long day fast with family.
"It's tough to resist but fasting is all about this only, one must learn to control," said Sahar, the mother of four, while adjusting the dishes.
"We try to keep Iftar as light as possible whereas for Suhoor I make heavy dishes like paratha (flatbread), chicken, biryani".
Finally, came the time we were all waiting for, before starting Iftar the Khan family immersed in 'Dua' (prayers before meals).

Madiha Khan, who came to celebrate Iftar with her family after marriage, told how she was craving for the food cooked by her mom and decided to drop in at the last moment. "I love everything cooked by my mom and I am fortunate that I live in Sharjah so I can come to meet my family often".
Slowly we started discovering each other and soon were engaged in the conversations, on how Ramadan is celebrated in Pakistan. Muhammad Shamiq Khan, the youngest of all, shared his views. "In Pakistan every day before Iftar I used to fly kites with my friends, here I miss that."
To which Muhammad Faizan Khan, eldest son, added: "We enjoy Ramadan at best here with friends and colleagues but we also miss the lively traditional Pakistani markets where we get mouth watering street food like haleem, biryani, kebabs, nihari, Paya".

"Faizan is open to different cultures that's why he loves being dressed in Arabic style at times and he loves harees, an Arabic dish," revealed his sister Madiha.
The alluring evening was concluded with a fresh cup of green tea which they make sure to have after Iftar.
"It's important to keep a check on fitness also because people end up eating more after fasting for so many hours. We can't exercise much now but at least can eat light and in moderation during Ramadan," said Muhammad Shariq Khan, second son of the family.
For me such a powerfully fascinating experience of Iftar can't be better. Simplicity and charm of the family left me spellbound and took me on a virtual trip to Karachi. These memories will be cherished for life.
ankita@khaleejtimes.com