WATCH: Preparing a meal for 500 readying to break fast

• Part of the Islamic faith
• First time being held in person in two years
• Regarded as a training month

A blessing to be together to pray and share a meal is how Hamid Butt describes Ramadan.

Butt is the secretary for the Kelowna branch of the BC Muslim Association (BCMA), and he said for the entire month, those of the Islamic faith take part in a variety of disciplinary guidelines, including fasting during the day and praying into the night.

“Ramadan is one of the training months for the entire year,” Butt told Kelowna10. “To make sure we understand the bounties of God Almighty, the restrictions, and how to understand we become a good human being in a compassionate and sharing way.”

Fasting and prayers take place daily at the mosque off Highway 33 during Ramadan, but there isn’t enough space for everyone to come together. So, members of the BCMA chose Saturday evening to hold a large gathering at Parkinson Recreation Centre to break the fast and share a meal together for the first time in two years.

“We’re trying to bring the broader community together to celebrate that and start feeling the community aspects of the gathering,” Butt said.

Throughout all of Saturday, board members and volunteers were cooking a variety of food for the 500 guests who would be enjoying a meal at sunset after fasting all day.

“We’re going to have some Canadian-style food, some traditional foods,” he explained. “There will be fried chickens, stew, some traditional rice, [and] traditional sweets.”

As the clock was ticking towards 8 p.m., hundreds gathered in the main hall at the rec centre. Everyone was happy to see each other and welcome new members.

Before the feast began, a few children recited part of the Quran, and then prayers were held outside.

Once prayers were done, the fast was broken with water and dates, then everyone ate a meal and celebrated the evening together.

“We haven’t seen for a long time, these people in a big gathering,” Butt said.

“It is really a blessing that we have now the opportunity to get together, meet, and see [everyone] face to face.”