Dubai

They could always go home after work and relax after a long day but these Indians living in Dubai prefer to spend their free time in joining preparations for a mega meal to be served for Iftar. This food is served to thousands of people in the Naif area of ​​Deira in the multicultural business city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), all the days of the ongoing Ramadan.

Indian Suresh Kumar Marimato has been doing this for the past six years. The group of workers leave for work at 6 a.m., log off at 1 p.m., go home, and return at 4 p.m. to work as volunteers to prepare a grand meal for the daily iftar gathering organized by the Iman Cultural Center near the mosque.

"When I get home from work, I am already very tired. But the moment I started volunteering at the center, all my fatigue would go away," says Suresh, who is a registered volunteer with the Community Development Authority (CDA) of Dubai.

Working as a team leader for mechanics in a logistics company, Suresh has a tough job at his workplace but always manages to find time to help. "During Ramadan, I prefer to serve guests at the Grand Iftar in Deira."

Preparing for hosting Iftar at a Dubai area

Iman Cultural Center has been a meeting place for fasting people for decades. What started as a modest gathering of 200 people in the 1980s has now grown into a massive event that draws nearly 7,000 people every single day.

Under the patronage of Ali Rashid Lotta, the daily dawa is made possible with the help of more than 100 volunteers. Local shop owners in the area, too, closed their stores temporarily and gave away their spaces to accommodate the gathering.

Another foreigner Sriraj Janakiraman has always looked forward to helping the gathering for the past two years. Whoever found him at 5 pm would find him arranging food for Iftar in the Lota Masjid.

These volunteering services give me a sense of relief and peace every day, he says. He also used to volunteer in various initiatives in Chennai. The volunteer added, "I do this service with all my heart. I Help people break the fast and contribute to the betterment of humanity, they ensure that no guest is left behind."

Iftar at Deira in Dubai

Vignesh Manoharan is new to Dubai, and for him, this iftar event is a great opportunity to enjoy the rich culture of the city.

He says, "I was looking for opportunities to help during Ramadan, and finally I found people who would." Volunteers for this iftar - they happily do things like cooking and cleaning.

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"The prayers and smiles of the guests are so magical. They bless me after Iftar. Volunteering is something you do without expecting anything in return, but what I find is pure peace and joy."