Name: Harshika Darynani
Age: 38
Occupation: Freelance writer
Nationality: Indian
Emirate of residence: Dubai
In the UAE: For 10 years
“Having lived in Singapore for most of my life, moving to Dubai in Ramadan in 2006 was an amazing feeling. As soon as we landed in the UAE, we immediately witnessed the beauty of the city, its atmosphere and people. It was simply amazing, not to forget the tasty food.
“Over the years, we have come to know a lot of friends that are Muslims, and we try to make it a point to always visit them during Ramadan to embrace the culture and traditions. Although we are not from here nor do we share the same religion, we try our best to connect with the people and to get a feel of the peaceful month. With that in mind, I tried fasting in order to gain an understanding of what everyone around me goes through. Fasting during Ramadan for a non-Muslim was indeed an experience, and I gained so much respect for everyone. Although it was tough, especially because it is not something that I have ever done before, it was also very peaceful and I got a feeling of belonging – as if I was part of a community.
“Ramadan to me means spending a lot of time with family and friends and making the most of the peaceful atmosphere. The best thing about the month is how the city completely transforms to being colourful and vibrant – you can feel the culture in the air. To me, that is something that is very new as back in Singapore, we would rarely know when Ramadan is because of the small Muslim community there. Irrespective of that, our perspective definitely changed when we moved to the UAE, and we have learnt to adapt.
“Having lived here for 10 years now, we respect and appreciate the culture and religion of the country and considering that, we adhere to dress codes, and do not eat in public, nor would I think of opening a bottle of water in front of someone who is fasting at work.
“For the last 10 years, my family and I have spent the month helping those less fortunate and this year we are planning to go to various labour camps to distribute food to labourers. We volunteer every year and contribute to the Ramadan packages, help out with the packaging and then go around distributing it. Ramadan is a great month to give back to your fellow people, irrespective of their background and faith.”
