This year the sacred month of Ramazan started when the city was experiencing hot and humid weather. The onset of monsoon has brought some relief. Muslims fast from dawn to dusk and in Calcutta during Ramazan it usually means more than 15 hours of fasting.
This Ramazan is one of the longest fasts in the last 33 years. This is the month in which the glorious Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Muslims attach great relevance to this month and exercise high level of self-discipline, sacrifice and charity, along with spiritual reflection. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam. Muslims also abstain from hateful speech, rude behaviour and evil thoughts. The spirit behind fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the soul by freeing it from harmful impurities. It helps them to show empathy for those who are less fortunate.
It is quite obvious that such long hours of fasting might result in dehydration and weakness due to non-intake of food. Therefore, it is important to adequately supplement the body with the right kind of food.
An integral part of Ramazan is Sehri, the traditional pre-dawn meal. Observers get up in the dark to consume some food before starting their fast. For this meal, it is advisable to eat food which will release energy throughout the day and give us stamina for various activities. In order to stay full, one can have high-fibre and high-protein foods like apples (with skin), eggs, milk, cottage cheese, broccoli, spinach and chicken breasts.
People who fast or rozedars break their fast at sunset at a meal called Iftar. During Ramazan, apart from worship, a lot of people get involved with the preparation for Iftar. Women of the house get together and prepare a lot of mouth-watering dishes like haleem, dahi vadas, deep-fried items like pyazu, pakoras and beguni, kheer and various kinds of sherbet.
After long hours of fasting, some of us tend to overeat when we break our fast but this causes discomfort and rules out all hopes of being active after eating. Doctors even suggest that there is no reason to drink the recommended eight glasses immediately after Iftar but to slowly rehydrate the body.
Fatima Mirza runs Maria Montessori House and loves experimenting with new cuisines. She is married into the Wajid Ali Shah family.
Healthy tips
♦ Try to break the fast with two pieces of dates. It will provide a nutritious intake of natural sugar.
♦ Choose a diet rich in fruit, vegetable, beans, lentils, rice and grains as they are digested slowly.
♦ Drink lots of water between Iftar and Sehri as this will reduce the risk of dehydration during fasting.
♦ Avoid caffeinated beverages like tea, coffee or aerated drinks and processed foods.
♦ During the hottest part of the day, try to stay indoors or under shade and limit your physical activities.
♦ Light exercise like walking for about 20 minutes is recommended.
♦ Avoid fried and spicy food as it may cause indigestion or heartburn.
♦ Organise your schedule so that you get adequate sleep.
♦ Most importantly, don’t skip Sehri. They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. During Ramazan, it becomes even more important!
