President Pratibha Patil hosts 'iftar'

NEW DELHI: President Pratibha Patil on Friday hosted an 'iftar' party at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
    
This is for the first time in five years that an 'iftar' party was held in the Rashtrapati Bhavan as Patil's predecessor A P J Abdul Kalam did not host one during his tenure, Rashtrapati Bhavan sources said.
   
Vice President Hamid Ansari and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi were among a host of dignitaries present at the 'iftar' on Friday, which could not be attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as he is recuperating from a recent surgery.
   
Several Union Ministers, including Sushil Kumar Shinde, Shivraj Patil, P R Kyndiah, Saifuddin Soz, Suresh Pachauri, D Purandeshwari and Prithviraj Chavan, besides Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan and Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit, several MPs and diplomats were also present.
   
Leaders of all major religions also attended the 'iftar' where special arrangements were made to offer prayers. An elaborate dinner was also laid out.
   
The President and Gandhi went around meeting people at the Ashoka Hall.