NEWBURYPORT — The end of Ramadan will be recognized Thursday when the Human Rights Commission throws its eighth annual community iftar at Newburyport High School.
An iftar is the daily breaking of the fast during the month of Ramadan when Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. Once the sun goes down, they will often gather with family and friends to have dinner.
This year, Ramadan began in the United States on Feb. 28 and ends March 29.
The free event begins at 6:15 p.m. and includes a brief educational program, followed by a South Asian dinner from Mr. India Restaurant.
“A lot of this is just about breaking bread together,” Shane Cough, chair of the Human Rights Commission said. “There has been a lack of education on Islam culture in our society over the years and this is way to educate the community about that.”
The city’s Human Rights Commission is dedicated to upholding the human rights of all people in Newburyport. The seven-member board also works to promote a sense of welcome as well as inclusion for all residents. It has hosted a community iftar each year since 2017.
The evening, Cough added, has been designed to promote cultural awareness.
A call to prayer will be made at sunset at about 7 p.m., followed by about 10 minutes of prayers, then everyone will break their fast together.
A cultural overview of Muslim customs, Cough added, will be a part of Thursday’s presentation as well.
“We will be looking at a traditions, those kinds of things,” he said. “We will also have guidelines on what an iftar is and its purpose. There’s always a lot of questions about fasting, which is a big part of it. So there will be an education program and we have had kids and adults from the Afghan community get up and present, along with other members of the community.”
Mayor Sean Reardon said it’s been exciting watching the event evolve over the years.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to come together and support our neighbors celebrating Ramadan,” he said. “I’m so appreciative of the Human Rights Commission and the volunteers that make this event happen each year.”
The local muslim community has grown since late 2021, when the city welcomed five families (about 40 people) from Afghanistan. Cough said the annual iftar helps them to feel more a part of their community.
“It has always been a part of our mission to be inclusive,” he said. “The more that people are exposed to each other and understand each other’s backgrounds, then the more likely they are to be inclusive.”
To register for the iftar, go to: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd00eFztD19r84CrWHpSA0T90XInEN9qYKxY5pHoPFIPYY-Sw/viewform.
Staff writer Jim Sullivan covers Newburyport for The Daily News. He can be reached via email at jsullivan@newburyportnews.com or by phone at 978-961-3145. Follow him on Twitter @ndnsully.