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Global iftar: What people around the world ate this Ramazan

The meals vary from simple plates of watermelon and cheese in Syria to a cooked prison meal in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Reuters Published July 5, 2016

During the holy month of Ramazan, believers abstaining from food and drink during daylight hours, break their fast with the iftar evening meal.

From inside a coal mine in Bosnia and Herzegovina to a military training camp in Damascus, Reuters photographers have produced images capturing the daily practice just after sunset in different countries during Ramazan, which ends this week.

The meals vary from simple plates of watermelon and cheese in a Syrian rebel-controlled town to a cooked prison meal in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as a beach picnic in Morocco.

— All photos by Reuters

A combination picture shows Haji Husain, 65, a fisherman, as he sits with colleagues to eat iftar on a fishing boat (top), and their meal (bottom) in Ibrahim Hyderi, on the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan June 12. Husain said: "For me Ramazan is to fast and do good deeds, it keeps you away from Satan."
A combination picture shows Haji Husain, 65, a fisherman, as he sits with colleagues to eat iftar on a fishing boat (top), and their meal (bottom) in Ibrahim Hyderi, on the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan June 12. Husain said: "For me Ramazan is to fast and do good deeds, it keeps you away from Satan."

A combination picture shows a family eating iftar as they break their fast (top) and a pastry (bottom) during Ramazan in Harare, Zimbabwe, June 23.
A combination picture shows a family eating iftar as they break their fast (top) and a pastry (bottom) during Ramazan in Harare, Zimbabwe, June 23.

A combination picture shows people eating iftar (top), and their meal (bottom) at Ain Diab beach in Casablanca, Morocco June 15.
A combination picture shows people eating iftar (top), and their meal (bottom) at Ain Diab beach in Casablanca, Morocco June 15.

A combination picture shows prisoners eating iftar (top), and their meal (bottom), inside the country's biggest prison in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina June 20.
A combination picture shows prisoners eating iftar (top), and their meal (bottom), inside the country's biggest prison in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina June 20.

A combination picture shows Anwaar Hussain, 35, his coworkers and employer as they eat their iftar meal (top), and their meal (bottom) inside a shop in the old quarters of Delhi, India, June 14. Hussain is a mechanic who repairs second hand electric motors and water pumps. Hussain said that Ramazan is about self improvement and kindness, and that one should stay away from all evil.
A combination picture shows Anwaar Hussain, 35, his coworkers and employer as they eat their iftar meal (top), and their meal (bottom) inside a shop in the old quarters of Delhi, India, June 14. Hussain is a mechanic who repairs second hand electric motors and water pumps. Hussain said that Ramazan is about self improvement and kindness, and that one should stay away from all evil.

A combination picture shows Syrian refugee Ahmet Ilevi, 35, standing in front of the container, where he has lived with his wife (not seen) and five children since 2013 (top), and their iftar meal (bottom) at the Harran refugee camp, in Sanliurfa province, Turkey, June 6. Ahmet Ilevi was a police officer in Homs before he fled Syria as a refugee with his family. "Ramazan means peace for us. The only thing that breaks this peace is the thought of relatives left behind in Syria. I miss them every day. Ramazan in my homeland was more beautiful than this," he said. The family break their fast with a meal of chicken with potatoes and salad.
A combination picture shows Syrian refugee Ahmet Ilevi, 35, standing in front of the container, where he has lived with his wife (not seen) and five children since 2013 (top), and their iftar meal (bottom) at the Harran refugee camp, in Sanliurfa province, Turkey, June 6. Ahmet Ilevi was a police officer in Homs before he fled Syria as a refugee with his family. "Ramazan means peace for us. The only thing that breaks this peace is the thought of relatives left behind in Syria. I miss them every day. Ramazan in my homeland was more beautiful than this," he said. The family break their fast with a meal of chicken with potatoes and salad.

A combination picture shows guests taking their seats prior to eating iftar (top) and the buffet (bottom) at Ramazan Iftar Restaurant at Ritz Carlton Hotel in Manama, Bahrain, July 1.
A combination picture shows guests taking their seats prior to eating iftar (top) and the buffet (bottom) at Ramazan Iftar Restaurant at Ritz Carlton Hotel in Manama, Bahrain, July 1.

A combination picture shows Mohammed, 27, a labourer at a brick factory as he eats iftar with coworkers (top), and their meal (bottom) at a brick-making factory on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan June 14. "For me Ramazan is a test and this is God's will. We should obey God's commands so that we are successful," Mohammed said.
A combination picture shows Mohammed, 27, a labourer at a brick factory as he eats iftar with coworkers (top), and their meal (bottom) at a brick-making factory on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan June 14. "For me Ramazan is a test and this is God's will. We should obey God's commands so that we are successful," Mohammed said.

A combination picture shows Syrian army recruits eating iftar (top), and their meal (bottom), at a guard post inside a military training camp in Damascus, Syria June 26.
A combination picture shows Syrian army recruits eating iftar (top), and their meal (bottom), at a guard post inside a military training camp in Damascus, Syria June 26.

A combination picture shows Sanaa (2nd R), eating iftar with her children, while sitting next to other relatives (top), and their meal (bottom), near a clothes shop advert in Beirut, Lebanon June 10. Sanaa, 23, mother of three children, begs on Hamra street in Beirut. The family fled Syria two years ago, after her husband went missing. Her iftar meal is lentil soup with chicken and rice, which she received from passers-by. "Ramazan is about kindness and giving. I mostly like the decorations," she said.
A combination picture shows Sanaa (2nd R), eating iftar with her children, while sitting next to other relatives (top), and their meal (bottom), near a clothes shop advert in Beirut, Lebanon June 10. Sanaa, 23, mother of three children, begs on Hamra street in Beirut. The family fled Syria two years ago, after her husband went missing. Her iftar meal is lentil soup with chicken and rice, which she received from passers-by. "Ramazan is about kindness and giving. I mostly like the decorations," she said.

A combination picture shows Shir Alam, 31 (L), as he prepares shorba, an Afghan soup made from beef or lamb, which is served with bread and potatoes for iftar with colleagues (top), and their meal (bottom), in Kabul, Afghanistan June 12.
A combination picture shows Shir Alam, 31 (L), as he prepares shorba, an Afghan soup made from beef or lamb, which is served with bread and potatoes for iftar with colleagues (top), and their meal (bottom), in Kabul, Afghanistan June 12.

A combination picture shows Abdi Hasan, 78, as he walks after he received food from a charity (top), and his food (bottom), in Mogadishu, Somalia June 10. "We were worried before Ramazan started because we had no food. But now we are happy because we are getting bread, rice and juice for Ramazan breakfast and supper. Thank God," Hasan said.
A combination picture shows Abdi Hasan, 78, as he walks after he received food from a charity (top), and his food (bottom), in Mogadishu, Somalia June 10. "We were worried before Ramazan started because we had no food. But now we are happy because we are getting bread, rice and juice for Ramazan breakfast and supper. Thank God," Hasan said.

A combination picture shows members of the Palestinian National Security Forces eating iftar, as they break their fast (top), and their meal (bottom) in the dining hall at a base in the West Bank of Jericho June 14.
A combination picture shows members of the Palestinian National Security Forces eating iftar, as they break their fast (top), and their meal (bottom) in the dining hall at a base in the West Bank of Jericho June 14.

A combination picture shows civil defence members eating iftar (top), and their meal (bottom), in the rebel-controlled area of Maaret al-Numan town, in Idlib province, Syria June 10.
A combination picture shows civil defence members eating iftar (top), and their meal (bottom), in the rebel-controlled area of Maaret al-Numan town, in Idlib province, Syria June 10.

A combination picture shows fishermen from Suriname and Indonesia as they sit down to eat iftar at sunset (top), and their meal (bottom), aboard the Nisshin Maru No 7 fishing trawler, docked along the Suriname River at Livorno, Suriname, June 9.
A combination picture shows fishermen from Suriname and Indonesia as they sit down to eat iftar at sunset (top), and their meal (bottom), aboard the Nisshin Maru No 7 fishing trawler, docked along the Suriname River at Livorno, Suriname, June 9.

A combination picture shows people eating iftar (top) anf their meal (bottom) at a mosque in Sao Paulo, Brazil, June 30.
A combination picture shows people eating iftar (top) anf their meal (bottom) at a mosque in Sao Paulo, Brazil, June 30.

A combination picture shows a Palestinian family as they wait to break their fast (top), and their meal (bottom) outside their shelter in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip June 14.
A combination picture shows a Palestinian family as they wait to break their fast (top), and their meal (bottom) outside their shelter in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip June 14.

A combination picture shows coal miners eating iftar as they break their fast (top), and their meal (bottom) deep inside the Haljinici coal mine, in Kakanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina, June 21.
A combination picture shows coal miners eating iftar as they break their fast (top), and their meal (bottom) deep inside the Haljinici coal mine, in Kakanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina, June 21.

A combination picture shows Jihad Nuwaja, a Palestinian Bedouin man, as he eats iftar (top), and his meal (bottom) in the West Bank village of Susiya, near Hebron June 20.
A combination picture shows Jihad Nuwaja, a Palestinian Bedouin man, as he eats iftar (top), and his meal (bottom) in the West Bank village of Susiya, near Hebron June 20.

A combination picture shows Mohamed, an Egyptian policeman, firing a cannon to announce the time to break fast during Ramazan (top) and eating iftar (bottom), in Cairo, Egypt June 13.
A combination picture shows Mohamed, an Egyptian policeman, firing a cannon to announce the time to break fast during Ramazan (top) and eating iftar (bottom), in Cairo, Egypt June 13.

A combination picture shows the Ballote brothers sitting to have iftar at sunset (top) and their meal (bottom) outside their zlabiyas (traditional sweet) shop in Larabaa, on the outskirts of Algiers, Algeria June 16. Ballote brothers broke their fast with a soup called Chorba, chicken tagine, meat and traditional bread sent by their mother.
A combination picture shows the Ballote brothers sitting to have iftar at sunset (top) and their meal (bottom) outside their zlabiyas (traditional sweet) shop in Larabaa, on the outskirts of Algiers, Algeria June 16. Ballote brothers broke their fast with a soup called Chorba, chicken tagine, meat and traditional bread sent by their mother.

A combination picture shows Filipino tricycle drivers eating iftar as they break their fast (top), and their meal (bottom), during Ramazan in Taguig, Metro Manila, the Philippines June 12.
A combination picture shows Filipino tricycle drivers eating iftar as they break their fast (top), and their meal (bottom), during Ramazan in Taguig, Metro Manila, the Philippines June 12.

A combination picture shows Yasmine Diane (3rd L), 22, eating iftar with her parents (top), and their meal (bottom) in Abidjan, Ivory Coast June 19. Diane is a law student at Felix Houphouet Boigny university and lives with her parents. "Ramazan is very important for all Muslims because it is a great time to be a little closer to God through constant prayer and acts of sharing," said Diane.
A combination picture shows Yasmine Diane (3rd L), 22, eating iftar with her parents (top), and their meal (bottom) in Abidjan, Ivory Coast June 19. Diane is a law student at Felix Houphouet Boigny university and lives with her parents. "Ramazan is very important for all Muslims because it is a great time to be a little closer to God through constant prayer and acts of sharing," said Diane.

Comments (25) Closed
Ali
Jul 05, 2016 03:23pm
thanks to Dawn once again
Recommend 0
JAMIL
Jul 05, 2016 03:25pm
super
Recommend 0
SYH
Jul 05, 2016 03:35pm
Wow. Made my day! :)
Recommend 0
janan
Jul 05, 2016 04:05pm
No bryani,.kema, sharbat in iftar?
Recommend 0
Haider
Jul 05, 2016 04:17pm
Loved it!
Recommend 0
Rohit
Jul 05, 2016 04:32pm
Lovely Pics.....thanks......may this auspicious month bring peace all over
Recommend 0
Esfan
Jul 05, 2016 04:35pm
Guzel, thank you dawn.
Recommend 0
Mehreen
Jul 05, 2016 04:55pm
Amazing pictures :)
Recommend 0
Zulu
Jul 05, 2016 05:30pm
Different meals same purpose...
Recommend 0
Zulu
Jul 05, 2016 05:31pm
Where is mashoor-e-zamana rooh afzah
Recommend 0
gopynath
Jul 05, 2016 05:49pm
good to c the whole world in one pic :)......good work
Recommend 0
ahmad
Jul 05, 2016 06:16pm
Very Good selected picture. Would have loved it more if our Pak army jawans would have been in these pictures too.
Recommend 0
Sarwar, USA.
Jul 05, 2016 08:51pm
Good combination of rich and poor... Sad to see...Sanaa , eating iftar with her children, while sitting next to other relatives (top), and their meal (bottom), near a clothes shop advert in Beirut, Lebanon June 10. Sanaa, 23, mother of three children, begs on Hamra street in Beirut.
Recommend 0
SSS
Jul 05, 2016 10:04pm
Beautiful muslim people...beautiful diversity in their foods...spread all over this planet....Eid Mubarak to you my beautiful Muslim family...even though we are going through hard times but we will prevail....Inshallah
Recommend 0
Faiz
Jul 06, 2016 12:57am
Feeling sorry for that Somalian Man
Recommend 0
Ali Vazir
Jul 06, 2016 01:30am
We in Goma, Congo had all the Pakistani food, pakorra, samosa (called sambosa here), yakhni pulao, karrhi, peas pulao and so on. Shukar Alhamdo Lillah! Yet missing my beloved Pakistan.
Recommend 0
Shafiq Ahmad
Jul 06, 2016 01:35am
Great.Thanks DAWN for sharing wonderful pictures.
Recommend 0
Mohit
Jul 06, 2016 03:33am
Great Pictures. Wish everyone a happy Ramazan & Eid
Recommend 0
Baaligh
Jul 06, 2016 08:13am
@ahmad : "Would have loved it more if our Pak army jawans would have been in these pictures too.". Hope our "Dawn" can do it now.
Recommend 0
Muhammad
Jul 06, 2016 09:21am
Good job once again. Creative topic with unique pics. Make me feel proud member of such a big muslim family. Poor or rich all have exhibit same decsipline and peace to the rest of world.
Recommend 0
Ramesh Nakhwa
Jul 06, 2016 10:25am
@janan yeah in many parts of the war torn world and poor countries the iftar meal quiet ordinary. May all the world have a full iftar next Ramadan. Happy Eid
Recommend 0
Karun Khanna
Jul 06, 2016 01:03pm
@ahmad Dear Ahmed, yesterday while playing golf at the Army Golf Course in Delhi I saw army jawans from the nearby Rajputana Rifles Center at an Iftar Dinner with their officers.Wonderful sight -normally 'Barakhanas' where officers and other ranks sit and eat and 'drink' together are are a tradition in both Indian and Pakistan armies this Iftar dinner was obviously without alcohol. Eid Mubarak Karun Khanna,New Delhi
Recommend 0
Karachi Wala
Jul 07, 2016 09:47am
Best thing is that Dawn has showed the common people, not the elite Iftar dinners I would recommend showing large Iftar gatherings at holy places e.g. Saudi, Iran and Iraq
Recommend 0
Dr.Cajetan Coelho
Jul 07, 2016 03:19pm
Happy Ramazan. God bless.
Recommend 0
Alexa
Jul 07, 2016 06:14pm
Eye-opening piece.
Recommend 0
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