Inspirational and spiritual Turkish music filled the air last weekend as over a thousand guests enjoyed two consecutive iftar programs at a five star hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Due to popular demand, the Third Traditional Turkish Iftar Program took place on two evenings. The first one which was organized on 18th September, Thursday attracted more than 350 non-Turkish guests.
The next day, over 850 members of the Turkish community residing and working in the UAE were treated to an unforgettable iftar program at Baniyas Ballroom of Grand Hyatt Hotel Dubai.
Sponsored by major Turkish companies operating in the region and promoted through community website EmiratesTurk.com, the annual iftar programs aim to bring the Turkish community in the country together under one roof and strengthen ties amongst themselves.
Such programs also provide the venue to establish new relations, help integrate newcomers to the life in the UAE, and of course feel the spirit of Ramadan in a unique Turkish way, organizers say.
In a broader sense, the Turkish iftar programs target to increase the social and business interaction between the Turkish community and Emiratis as well as other expatriates in the country.
The first evening, honored by the presence of HE Hakki Akil, Turkish Ambassador to the UAE and Murat Yavuz Ates, Consul General Dubai Consulate attracted high level public officials from the local scene as well as businessmen from different sectors.
Traditional Turkish music played by the enthused members of a band specially invited for the evening greeted the guests. Their Turkish folk musical instruments included drum, flute and long neck lute.
As the clock showed it was time to break fasting, guests lined up to enjoy the sumptuous meal prepared by the skilled cooks of the luxury hotel.
The mouth-watering open buffet dinner included mix grilled kabab, king fish, roast lamb, biryani complemented by a variety of side dishes and salads.
Those guests on a diet were seen to be resisting the temptation to taste not-to-miss sweets and deserts from kunafa to dates and local delicacies.
Welcoming the guests on behalf of the organizing committee, Fatih Kok said the event was devoted to promoting peace and enhancing dialogue among the different faiths and cultures.
“Our wish is for all of us, as divergent as we are, to live together in peace and harmony. We dream of a world, in which individuals are respectful towards each other, accept one another as they are, and willing to self-sacrifice to the good of others,” Kok added.
In his speech, Ambassador Hakki Akil stressed the importance of such gatherings. The Ambassador encouraged the members of the Turkish community to strengthen their ties and get together more often as Ramadan’s spiritual atmosphere filled the air.
His Excellency also expressed his happiness and gratitude to the companies which sponsored the program and helped bring hundreds of guests under one roof at a special time of the year.
Consul General Murat Yavuz Ates, in his remarks, reminisced Ramadan days and iftar times in Turkey and brought the audience to their younger years where all family members gathered around the dinner table waiting for the call of adhan to break fast.
Though it is not possible to go back in time, HE Ates added, it is still a remarkable achievement to bring together the Turkish community and their friends at one location to celebrate Ramadan. The Consul General also congratulated the organizing committee for their sincere efforts.
An exhibition featuring the finest examples of Turkish art of calligraphy (Art of Writing) in Arabic alphabet and ‘Ebru’ (Marbling) awaited the connoisseurs outside the dining hall.
The calligraphy comprises the beautiful lines inscribed with reed pens on paper using ink made from soot. Turkish calligraphists have always made the paper, pens and ink they used and the paper used to be painted with natural dyes.
Explaining the characteristics of the calligraphy works, Dr. Suleyman Berk said it takes around two weeks to come up with the initial drawing of the calligraphy which could be a verse from Holy Qur’an or one of the sayings (Hadith) of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH).
The work is then taken to experts who would embellish and illuminate the calligraphy. The word 'tezhib' means the art of embellishing handwritten books with guild and dyes.
Dr. Berk remarks it will take up to two months for a high quality calligraphy work to be complete. A lot of patience and hardwork is needed, he adds.
The iftar program lasted over two hours. However, grabbing the chance to make new friends and chat with other community members, many guests were seen to stay behind and enjoy the rest of the evening having tea and coffee.
The organizing committee also expressed delight over the positive response of the companies to sponsor the event and huge interest of the people to attend the iftar program.
The Third Turkish Iftar Program’s Main Sponsors were Turkish Airlines, Atasay Simya Jewellery, General Mobile; Platinum Sponsors were Palermo Furniture, Bader International Investment and CreArt; Gold Sponsors were Al Bayaraq, Taktikal Realty Group and Hira; and Silver Sponsors were Eldorado Furniture, Asalight, Al Sharif Advocates & Legal Consultants, Gusto Furniture, Gulluoglu, ANT, and Digicom Components Limited. The event’s Online Partner was EmiratesTurk.com and Branding Partner was BrandClinic.
