Mass Iftaar parties: A magnificent reflection of interfaith-harmony.

PESHAWAR -- Rawandar Singh, a 39-years old Sikh, is all smiles and exudes high spirit of sharing and compassion as he seeks solace in dolling out dates and 'pakora' among fasting Muslims during iftaar on returning home from his shop in Hashtnagri.

Rawandar Singh wearing the traditional turban has been distributing packets of dates and other edible items among the fasting Peshawarties in Hastnagri bazaar since 2012. His father Awtah Singh has started the noble practice and passed on to his son. 'I feel inner peace and satisfaction while doing the noble practice in all 30 days of the month.'

'The soothing moments of distributing iftaar's items including dates, pakora, jalebi and others dishes still alive as fresh as today when I keenly observe my late father Awtah Singh handing over packets of iftaar food to Muslim brothers all along way from Hastnagri to Mohalla Jogan Ramdas in interior City,' Rawandar Singh told reporter while distributing dates and pakora among the fasting Muslims ahead of Iftaar.

'I strongly believe in interfaith-harmony, love and brotherhood. Distribution of food in Ramazan is our mark of respect and admiration for our fasting Muslims' brothers besides giving us inner peace and satisfaction,' Rawandar who is being helped by his son in dolling out of dates and pakora told the news agency.

Dewa Singh and his son Tajindar Singh, who are associated with telecommunication business in Hastnagri Peshawar, said that inviting people of different faiths in iftaar parties in Pakistan send a strong message of love, brotherhood and friendship to the whole world.

'Without winning hearts and minds, we can't come closer to each other and could not develop a society whose inhabitants enjoy equal rights and respect for each other's beliefs,' they said.

"Arranging iftaar parties and Ramzan camps for Muslims is not a new practice for us. Our forefathers did the same thing to express warmth, love and friendship to our Muslims brothers of Peshawar during Ramazan,' they said, adding they were serving iftaar's foods to over dozens of fasting persons on daily basis and vowed to continue to do so in the remaining days of the month.

Roadside mass iftaar parties are being seen at Qisa Khwani, University Road, Lady Reading Hospital, Takhto Jumat Cantonment and Ramadas where philanthropists invite people of different faiths in an environment of sharing, care and friendship.

The mass iftaar parties' long sheets filled with dates, pakora, jalebi...