Sunday 14 July 2013

breakfast or Break Fast?

breakfast or Break Fast?
(Break fast gathering at Sartika&Ariadi's House. Baby Ata, Baby Arka, Kur, Agung, Arif, Nanang, Puti)

Saturday, July 13th, 2013

I got an invitation for breaking fast together at Sartika&Ariadi's flat. Even though I am not a Muslim, but Indonesian tolerant was so high, that I got invited too. Well, indeed, the gathering was also to introduce new family member, the little Abi. Breakfast is understood as morning dining. But during Ramadhan month it has another meaning, that is dining when the sun has set. It is a religious practice.

What is Fasting?
Fasting, literally means abstain completely from food, drink, intimate intercourse and smoking.

Who?
It is for every responsible and fit Muslim, regardless age or gender.

When?
During entire month of Ramadhan (the ninth month of the Islamic year)

How long?
Depends on location where we fast, from dawn till sunset.
There is interesting article about Burj Khalifa that has 3 different time of breaking fast.

Burj Khalifa is world’s tallest tower with 160 storeys, 828 metres tall, must be divided into three different times for breaking of the fast, based on when the actual sun set is “visible” to a tenant. For those living on floors between 80 and 150 (or at about 414 metres high), break fast time is delayed by two minutes. And for those living on floor 150 and above (about 800 metres and above) is delayed by three minutes.
(Wow…they are really exact.)

How to break fast?
Different places have different way of celebrating break of fast. Religion and local custom tradition blend into one. Special activity and special food is prepared for this event. Please note that Muslim has a belief that if we can feed fasting person, we can get more blessings from God.

So the practice of breaking fast can be packed together with:
1. Gathering with orphans or widows.
2. Cooking local food, eat together at one’s house and distribute the food to close neighbors
3. Slaughter cattle and distribute the meat for people in most need.
4. Pray to God for departing beloved people and strew flowers at cemetery.
5. Ask forgiveness to conscious and unconscious mistakes, inner and outer, by visiting parents’ house, relatives’ house, or gathering in neighborhood.

And, this is the most tempting issue: we can find unusual delicacies sell along the road, but more on sweet and mouth watery kind.
1. Sweet drink: Kolak, cendol, bubur sumsum, bubur ketan, pisang ijo, etc.
2. Appetizer: ketan bakar, singkong rebus gula merah, klepon, apem, gorengan (tempting but not healthy), etc.
3. Fruits: date, cocktail (es buah), jelly, coconut ice, es campur, etc.
4. Main course: vary from local food, tumpeng nasi kuning, rice with various vegetables and side dish in buffet style to international food
(Many times happen that the appetizer is so tempting and a lot of variant that people is so full to eat main course.)

Understand that every religion has their own way of fasting or contemplating to God, I feel that the practice of fasting is so great, that is not only to fulfill one’s obligation to certain religion, but it also embrace one’s spirit:
1. It is a sincere love. Because the man who loves God truly is a man who really knows what love is.
2. It cultivates honest dedication and sound conscience. Because there is no authority to check man’s behavior to observe fasting.
3. It provides man with transparent soul, clear mind and light body. Not only think about ourselves or our stomach, but more of heavenly purpose.
4. It grounds man in discipline and healthy survival
5. It originates in man the spirit of sharing to relatives, friends, and most importantly more needy people.

Special thanks to myReference:
1. Sartika & Ariadi & their parents for the place and food and picture.
2. Friends who came.


Warm regards,
Risa



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