Holding on to Ramadan routine from home

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Syeda Saeeda with husband and kids — Ashar and Aiza (left) and Faithful awaiting Maghrib call for prayer at the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan. — APP (right)
Syeda Saeeda with husband and kids - Ashar and Aiza (left) and Faithful awaiting Maghrib call for prayer at the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan. - APP (right)

Her twins - Ashar and Aiza - are too young (five-and-a-half years) to fast.

by

Asma Ali Zain

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Published: Mon 13 May 2019, 8:00 PM

Last updated: Tue 14 May 2019, 9:19 AM

Syeda Saeeda Ahsan is from Lahore, which is the heart of Pakistan and famous for its rich food and culture. That is exactly what she misses the most during Ramadan. "I used to be in Lahore almost 15 years back, living with my parents and two brothers ... those were my teenage days," she said. "Family gatherings at Iftar and Suhoor always used to add an extra flavour to that existing rich culture.
"My mother used to wake up at 2am to prepare Suhoor as we all slept. She used to make sure that every kid got the food of his/her own choice for Suhoor. Even when we were kids and were not supposed to fast, we used to get up with everyone to enjoy Suhoor. My favourite dishes were paratha, chana, paya and lassi."
Memories of Ramadan at home are what the family misses most. "After a long day of fasting, our mother used to enter the kitchen again to prepare the Iftar dishes. All the delicious dishes which we could think of used to be at our dastarkhawan (floor sitting on sheet for food). I can't forget the taste of pakoray, dahi bhallay, chat, kabab along with sharbat (Rooh Afza), which were mandatary in our Iftar," she said.
After coming to Dubai in 2005 and getting married in 2010, the lifestyle, and habits, changed. "But we still retained our food. Our Ramadan routine has the same pattern," she said. "I have taken the role of my mother in my house. I wake up early to prepare paratha, omelette, curry and lassi."
Her twins - Ashar and Aiza - are too young (five-and-a-half years) to fast. "So my husband and I, Ahsan, enjoy the ambience back home through a Pakistani TV channel's Suhoor time transmission."
After work, Saeeda makes sure Iftaar is ready on time. "Our own snacks like pakoray, dahi bhally, chat and Rooh Afza are a must."
She said she misses family gatherings more than the food. "I am training my kids for the same routine and they love to sit with us for Iftar. They wait for this Holy month of Ramadan the whole year to experience the culture we brought along with us," she added.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com
 


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