Of Prayer & Togetherness

There are approximately 24 markazes in Pune apart from the five mosques which have been set up for worshiping the Lord. This markaz,located beside the Corporation Medical Hall,Shivarkar Road,is a true testimony to the religious harmony. “Every year,Balasaheb Shivarkar,an ex-MLA of the Congress party,gives the piece of land to our community before Ramadan free of cost. It is a good-will gesture on his part,” says Khuzema Shaherawala,the secretary of Fatimanagar Markaz Committee.

Apart from the daily prayers which are conducted thrice a day,the community members eat their snacks and dinner together. Caterers from the community organise and take charge of the food which is served. To ensure everybody’s good health and hygiene,food is cooked in an extremely clean environment with continuous supervision everyday. “After fasting for the whole day,it is difficult to digest heavy food. So we eat light biryani,haleem and fruits,” says Tandiwala. Food is also packed for the sick,old and pregnant women who cannot attend the prayers. Evening tea is served with biscuits and dates. It is also ensured that people feel fresh after completing the day of prayers and work. “For this reason,a kiosk is created at the entrance of the markaz by the youth of the community. It is known as the ‘sabil’. The youngsters serve water,several kinds of sherbets and cold drink. All these initiatives are entirely voluntary,” adds Shaherawala.

Eid is celebrated as per the calendar every year. “We can tell the day when it was celebrated hundred years back and the day when it will be celebrated hundred years later,” says Tandiwala.

The whole community looks forward to the celebrations. “It feels great to be together for one month. Despite work commitments,I never miss a single day’s prayers,” says 27-year-old interior designer Nazneen Poonawala. Poonawala is a die-hard fan of the DCP or the dal-chawal-palidu which is a specialty of the Bohris during the month of Ramazan. “It is cooked once a week in the markaz. It is a daal-chawal-khichdi made out of toor daal and served with a lentil soup called the palidu,” Poonawala adds.