Riyaz Ul Khaliq
KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Unlike any usual evening, city witnessed a different Iftaar Saturday evening.
On the banks of world famous Dal lake, people started pouring in since 6pm; after day’s work, groups of men and women with children were seen resting on the pulpit constructed around the lake amid cool breeze.
The tourism department of Kashmir government had organized an Iftaar evening and expected around 3000 people to attend it making it the Asia’s longest Iftaar. But, the event managers had to face severe criticism when they advertised, distinctively, that around thousand orphans would be part of the event, thus, apparently generating sympathy amongst the people to attend it.
To make it to Limca Book of World records, the event managers had spread carpets around Dal starting from Kralsangri crossing near to Nishat garden.
This evening around Boulevard saw huge gathering of media, probably making the event more attractive.
The grand Iftaar which was served on the street may be the biggest ever event in Kashmir’s recent history, so far, however, Masjids around Muslim world have even longer spaces to accommodate huge number of people to break their fast.
People, majorly families, attended the Iftaar who were provided water, dates, bananas and other sweet dishes by the organizers. Kashmir’s big business houses were sponsoring the event.
While, people kept waiting for the Iftaar, Naats and Nasheeds soothed the souls of attendees. Students from nearby Harwan Madrassas too were amongst those who broke their fast. School buses belonging to Presentation Convent Higher Secondary School were seen ferrying students of these Madrassas while people volunteered and distributed fruits and Firni amongst the assembled people.
“This event is a path breaking,” Murtaza, an engineer quipped, “people were not seen happy like this before; we would assemble but for mourning.”
As the people broke their fast, Azaan followed and prayers were offered.
“Atleast, we got a reason to get together and enjoy this soothing breeze after day’s work in hot conditions,” a man in his mid forties said.
Around 3500 people from all walks of life including professionals and students attended the Iftaar party that had ‘dastarkhans’ (dinning cloth) spread across a distance of 1.6 kms, the ANI reported.
KL Images by: Bilal Bahadur