The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has added Iftar — the meal Muslims have to break their fasts, especially in the month of Ramadan — to its list of intangible cultural heritage.
The application for the sociocultural tradition was jointly submitted by Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan to the Unesco.
Though the concept of Iftar is more religious than cultural, the communities observe it with such zest that it represents the Muslim culture in countries across the globe.
The centuries-old community tradition was recognised by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage which has been meeting in Botswana since Monday.
Marking the termination of fasting from dawn to dusk that teaches resilience and patience in hardships and hunger, Iftar is observed by people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds upon completion of all religious and ceremonial rites, Unesco said in an official statement
The Iftar meal is taken after the Maghrib adhan at the time of sunset and is followed by prayer, and often by different religious ceremonies according to the spirit of Ramadan.
