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Muslim holy month Ramadan festivities return to India after 2 years

With the sound of the bursting of explosive-laden crackers, thousands of faithful gathered in the courtyard of India's historic Jama Masjid (main mosque) in the capital city of Delhi break the fasting together every evening during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

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Muslim holy month Ramadan festivities return to India after 2 years

During Ramadan, the shops in the area including eateries that serve the best non-vegetarian cuisines, remain open till early morning.

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Muslim holy month Ramadan festivities return to India after 2 years

"These days, people keep visiting the shops till the sehri time (pre-dawn)," said Zubair.

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Muslim holy month Ramadan festivities return to India after 2 years

Culture of iftar parties

India's capital New Delhi, known for political hustle and bustle, is historically also famous for grand iftar parties hosted by politicians across the board, which used to work as a platform for different communities in plural India to meet and bond.

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Muslim holy month Ramadan festivities return to India after 2 years

No less than persons like the president, prime minister, and other dignitaries across the political spectrum used to host such parties.

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Muslim holy month Ramadan festivities return to India after 2 years

But since 2014, when the rightist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power, the culture of iftar parties has dried up in India.

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Muslim holy month Ramadan festivities return to India after 2 years

"It has created an impact because of the anti-Muslim environment which we are seeing in the country. Iftar parties used to be an opportunity to celebrate this important occasion with our brothers in the country who are not Muslims," Niyaz Farooqui, secretary of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, India's largest socio-religious Muslim organization, told Anadolu Agency.

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Muslim holy month Ramadan festivities return to India after 2 years

"But now bridges are being broken and distances are being created among the communities. This is the reason why we are seeing lesser Iftar parties now at all levels," he added.

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Muslim holy month Ramadan festivities return to India after 2 years

Veteran Indian journalist Qurban Ali said the iftar parties also used to have political significance and for many journalists would become a source of news as well.

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Muslim holy month Ramadan festivities return to India after 2 years

"Through these parties, one would know more about the developing political situations, especially in times of coalition governments, like heavyweight politicians attended a particular iftar party, who are friends of who, etc... that would become a news ...," he said.

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Muslim holy month Ramadan festivities return to India after 2 years

Ali said the overall growing narrative against the Muslims is the reason behind the vanishing iftar parties.