<p>U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) Acting Director of Nutrition Marketing and Communications Brooke Hardison, provides an introduction during the 8th Annual USDA Iftar Celebration in the patio of the Whitten Building in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 28, 2016. This year’s theme is “Working together for a better World: Reducing Food Waste at Home.” The celebration was sponsored by the USDA Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders, Federal Asian Pacific American Council, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and in partnership with Islamic Relief USA. Ramadan is the 9th month of the lunar calendar and is observed by Muslims around the world as a month of fasting, intensive prayer, sacrifices and worship. Throughout this holy month, Muslims fast during the day, abstaining from consuming food and water from dawn to sunset, and use this time to purify themselves spiritually.
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Fasting reminds Muslims of the poverty and hunger suffered by many worldwide. It is a connection with those who are hungry not by choice, but through the many global factors that produce hunger – including natural disasters. Iftar is the meal when Muslims break their fast at sunset by eating dates, according to the Prophetic tradition. It is taken at the time of the call of the evening prayer, Maghrib. It is often done as a community with people gathering to break their fast together. Feeding someone Iftar is believed to be a form of charity. So at this charitable night tonight, we gather to break dates together grown in Mecca, California. USDA Media by Lance Cheung.
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2016-06-28 20:09
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