During this period, Muslims keep fast and abstain from food, drink, and other certain activities during daylight hours.
In Pakistan, almost everybody stops to rejoice for a few minutes, following the iftar and azan, the call to prayer and the time to break the day long fasts.
Preparations for iftar commence hours before at roadside stalls. As the iftar time draws near, the evening is lit up with stalls selling savory treats, mostly traditional Pakistani foods, especially prepared in the month of Ramadan.
In Pakistan iftar or the fast break is usually heavy, consisting mainly of traditional samosas, pakora and namak para, besides the dates and water. Other items such as roasted meat, chicken rolls, Shami Kebabs, and fruit salads are also very common.
Pakora is a fried snack. Originally from the Indian subcontinent, it is a popular snack across the Indian subcontinent, especially in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. If there is no pakora in iftari time, then it is not a complete iftari.
Samosa is a fried or baked dish with a savory filling, such as spiced potatoes, onions, peas, lentils, macaroni, noodles, cheese, minced lamb or minced beef.
Fruit salad is another dish prepared for Iftari. It consists of various kinds of fruit, sometimes served in a liquid, either in their own juices or syrup.
Dahi Bara is a popular snack in Pakistan. It is prepared by soaking Baras (fried flour balls) in thick yogurt. A combination of coriander and other spices are often used as garnish.
Chana chaat or Chick pea salad is one of most-common iftar things in Pakistani culture. It also consists of potatoes, coriander and other spices.
Other important foods for Iftar in Pakistan are Kachori and jalebi.
For sehri times khajla and pheni are prepared. Eaten with milk at the start of fast on sehri, both khajla and pheni are considered to give extra energy while being light on digestion.
During the month, special and traditional drinks are also prepared. They can be sweet or salty.
There are many other dishes which are prepared in different parts of Pakistan and vary from area to area.
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Islamabad, May 22, IRNA -- Like other Muslim countries of the world, Ramadan in Pakistan is in full swing and people along with fasting and prayers also prepare special foods during the holy month.
