Madurai, June 13: Ramadan, the holy month of Islamic lunar calendar, has begun. Muslims across the world observe fast and perform special prayers during the month of Ramadan, also known as Ramazan. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims observe fast from dawn to dusk. In a nice gesture, a hospital in Madurai serves special meal to Muslim patients and their relatives at 3 AM for sehri. Sehri or Suhur is an Islamic term referring to the meal consumed early in the morning by Muslims before fasting.
However fasting is not mandatory for the sick person during Ramadan, but their relatives who stay in hospital to look after them faces problem in observing fast. In order to help those patients and their attendants, staff of Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre in Madurai offers special meal for them so that they can get food for sehri. The food is also served to them at the time of iftar. (ALSO READ: Ramadan 2016: Tips to stay healthy during Ramzan fasting)
“We give them dates, which help to balance the acidity in their stomach after the long fast, and then the meals, which would include one non-vegetarian dish, fruits and juice,” Vivekanandhan, senior manager of catering at the MMHRC, told Times of India. The decision of serving food was taken after the hospital authority realised that access of food was difficult for Muslims during the early morning hours.
“I am able to fulfill my needs like I do at home and the food is also good,” Abdul Riyaz, who has come from Ramanathapuram and is staying with his wife, was quoted as saying. At the time of iftar, the hospital staff offers ‘nombu kanji’ (fasting gruel) that includes rice, dhal and mincemeat. Non-Muslims are also allowed to take benefit from the initiative. After knowing about the facility, many outsiders also come to the hospital restaurant for the early morning meal, for which they are charged Rs 150.
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