Iftar party an occasion to strengthen religious harmony: Mukesh Hegde

Mukesh Hegde has been conducting Iftar party for the last 20 years

Vartha Bharati | 11-06-2018 | 20:56:00 IST

Mangaluru, June 11: In a communally sensitive place like Mangaluru, a businessman belonging to Hindu community has been conducting harmonious Iftar party for the last 20 years, receiving widespread appreciation both from the Hindu and Muslim communities.

Mukesh Hegde, owner of Car Décor at Kadri Shivabagh in the city, has been conducting the Iftar party on second or third Sunday of Ramzan month in the city for the last 20 years. This time, he organized the Iftar party on June 1 in which more than 100 people participated. Talent Research Foundation founder president Abdul Rauf Puttige gave Ramzan and Iftar party message.

Those who were on fasting participated in the party happily. They appreciated the hospitality of Mukesh Hegde, his wife and children during the party. They expect that such harmonious programmes should be conducted regularly in the city in order to avoid communal hatred among people.

Speaking to Varthabharati, Hegde said that “I am not organizing the Iftar party for publicity or attracting customers. I have many friends and well-wishers of Muslims, Hindus and Christians. I believe that this is no other right occasion than this one to spend a happy moment with them. So, I have been organizing this party along with my family members and this would continue in future”, he said.

“In 1998, my Car Décor outlet was at the Saibeen Complex at Lalbagh in the city. I was observing my Muslim friends who were on fasting during Ramadan month and the Iftar party being held there every day attracted me most. After this, I have planned to organize the Iftar party during every Ramzan. With the support of Saibeen Complex owner, owners of other outlets and staff, I had organized the Iftar party. In the beginning, more than 300-400 people used to participate in the Iftar party. Since eight years, I have been organizing the party at my own house at Kadri Shivabagh. Around 100-150 persons participate in the party. In this party also, more than 100 persons participated”, Hegde said.

Space for prayer

“We not only organize Iftar party, but also allow the participants to have prayer. For this, we will arrange carpets. We, including my wife and children, will cordially invite the guests who accept our invitation. I cannot express the joy and experience in simple words”, he said.

Hindus and Christians too attend

“This is just a harmonious iftar party in which along with Muslims, my Hindu and Christian friends will also participate happily. IN order to make them understand the value of the Iftar party, Abdul Rauf Puttige will give Ramzan and Iftar message in Tulu. So, this Iftar party is ensuring religious and linguistic harmony among us”, he said.

No poverty if zakat is offered

Islam religion has given priority for zakat. Probably as I know, there is no alternative system than zakat to alleviate poverty in the society. Rich people giving zakat to the deserving poor once in a year should be made mandatory. This might alleviate the poverty in future. There is no need to impose tax on them also, he said.

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Karnataka issues nutrition advisory for govt events; recommends millets, healthier options

13-04-2026 ¦ 13-04-2026 IST

Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government on Monday issued a nutrition advisory recommending healthier food and beverage options at meetings, functions, and other official gatherings held in the state.

The advisory has been issued by the Department of Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Services to promote healthy dietary and nutritional habits among officials and staff, noting that food, refreshments and beverages served in government offices and official programmes are "often not aligned with nutrition standards."

The advisory recommends serving snacks such as millet-based, low-fat and low-sugar foods, fresh fruits, vegetable salads, sprouts, roasted nuts and seeds during in-house office meetings and breaks.

Beverages such as green tea, low-fat buttermilk, and locally filtered or boiled water served in glass bottles or steel flasks have also been suggested.

According to the advisory, for larger government events, conferences and exhibitions, departments have been advised to include at least one millet-based item during snacks and a minimum of two millet dishes in meals, along with local cuisine and at least one regional recipe.

It also recommends the use of brown rice instead of white rice, freshly prepared vegetable salads, and fresh fruits or low-sugar fruit juices.

If non-vegetarian food is served, it should consist of well-cooked lean or white meat, the advisory stated.

In eateries operating within government office campuses, the department has recommended millet-based foods, fresh vegetable salads, boiled pulses such as horse gram or chickpeas, and low-fat beverages.

It suggests serving food using reusable metal plates and glasses.

The advisory also recommends avoiding microwave-heated food, industrially processed food, fried snacks, high-fat or heavily spiced dishes, carbonated drinks, high-sugar fruit juices, and alcoholic beverages.

It further discourages serving milk-based tea or coffee and plastic-bottled water during official events.

“Overall, hygiene and cleanliness should be maintained while serving food and water. Local cottage industries, self-help groups, prison kitchens, nutri-gardens and others should be preferred for placing food and beverage orders,” the advisory added.