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It's all about faith, devotion and self-control

Cooking scrumptious dishes during Ramzan seems uphill. dna speaks to those who manage this

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Those of us on fad diets will know what it feels like to stay hungry throughout the day. Headaches, bodyaches, low blood pressure -- these are few of the things we feel when we don’t eat for a long period of time. Think then, of those who fast. The holy month of Ramzan, when our Muslim brothers and sisters fast from sunrise to sunset, is not only a gesture of great devotion, it is also a test of endurance and faith. For those who’re not accustomed to fasting, this seems like an uphill task, especially when you think of those who have to prepare meals for numerous people for ‘Iftaar’, while they’re fasting themselves. How do they manage to resist temptation? We ask cooks at ‘Iftaar’ stalls and women who prepare meals for their families to know more.

Shehnaz Shaikh, who is self-employed and takes tuition classes, says that cooking for family during Ramzan, while she fasts, isn’t very difficult, because she has been observing ‘rozas’ every Ramzan for many years now. “Self control is a must. During my college days, when I was studying and working as well, I would be hurrying around town on a cycle. At that time, I would sometimes feel very thirsty,” says Shaikh, adding that fasting is a little bit difficult for young kids. “Children find it difficult to control their hunger and thirst post-afternoon. They keep asking when they’ll get to break their fast. For adults, though, it is not a big deal,” she says, attributing this self-control to faith.

Firoz Khan from Goa, who is a manager at a restaurant in the city, but cooks at the Imdadi stall at Kausar Baugh in Kondhwa, says that putting distance between him and the food helps whenever temptation strikes. 

“I move away whenever tempting smells whiff into my nose,” he says. Khan adds that since he can’t taste the food to know if salt and spices have been added in the right proportions, he asks those around him to taste them and let him know if it’s alright,” he said. 

Zameer Kazi, who also works at the stall, says that when he’s fasting , he becomes numb to the smells of kebabs and biryanis, hence they don’t tempt him.

Aziz Bagwan, who cooks at the Imdadi stall near Babajan Dargah in Camp, says that he too is accustomed to cooking while fasting after years of experience. 

“I observe ‘roza’ for Allah. It is a gesture of my faith and devotion, and succumbing to temptation would lead to my loss. I cook for five to six hours a day, for over 400 people, and yet, I don’t feel a thing,” he concludes.

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