Chief minister Nitish Kumar greets the guests at the Iftar party at his official residence in Patna on Thursday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Sporting a white kurta-pyjama and a fez, chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday donned the role of an Iftar party host at his official residence, 1 Aney Marg.

The gala feast during the holy month of Ramzan was attended by at least 5,000 people, including Leader of Opposition in Assembly Abdul Bari Siddiqui and Governor Devanand Konwar.

Around 15 items were served on huge dinning tables placed for people coming from all sections of the society.

The menu included mutton kalia, shami kebab, murgh musallam, vegetable biryani, sheermal roti, bakarkhani roti, fried brinjal, Nargis kebab and phirni. Fried gram, apple, banana and curd were also on platter. Dates and mineral water were offered to the regular namazis at the entrance.

The party differences relegated and religious colours drowned when Nitish walked up to the namazis waiting to break the fast in front of Maulvi Hazrat Maulana Syed Sameem Monmi and offered namaaz. After offering the namaaz, Nitish shook hands with leaders and politicians from the minority community. “Daba kar khaiyega. Bina khaye ghar mat chale jaiyeega (Eat well and do not leave without having the food),” Nitish told his guests.

The chief minister then headed towards the area where food arrangements were made. The food was prepared at the arena where Nitish holds his weekly janata durbar on Mondays. Around 75 cooks prepared the food for the thousands. Special arrangements were made for the ministers, the legislators and the VIPS.

The heavy footfall had called for heavy security arrangements. Many had gathered at the banquet just to have a glimpse of the chief minister.

Patna mayor Afzal Imam, whom the security personnel could not recognise, was stopped. But the smiling mayor did not complain. Seeing this, Nitish asked his security guards to take Afzal to the room where ministers and other VIPs were having food.

Nitish later said he joined the members of the minority community in praying for peace, social amity and development of Bihar in the holy month as the prayer made during this auspicious period were answered.