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Hundreds expected to attend Grand Iftar at cathedral

BBC A group of men stand together in a group smiling at the camera. The men are dressed in religious dress for ramadan. The Cathedral walls are seen behind the group as they stand within the entrance. BBC
The Grand Iftar was also celebrated inside Bristol Cathedral in 2024, which is when the above photograph was taken

Hundreds of people are expected to attend a Grand Iftar event which is being held in Bristol Cathedral for the second consecutive year.

Bristol Cathedral, Muslims4Bristol and Bridges for Communities are inviting people to share a meal at the multi-faith event on 13 March.

The Iftar is a celebration marking when Muslims break their fast at the end of Ramadan.

Organisers said this year's theme is promoting belonging and togetherness in the community.

Ramadan begins on 28 February and is due to end on 30 March, when Eid al-Fitr celebrations marking the end of the holy month will be held.

During the month, Muslims fast - which involves abstaining from eating and drinking during daylight hours - as well as focus on self-improvement, self-reflection and giving to the less fortunate.

Three men stand in a line smiling at the camera. They are standing in the cathedral, with the cathedral walls seen in the background. The men are wearing different dress - the man on the far left wears a black suit and tie. The man in the middle is wearing a black suit with a collarless waistcoat, and the man on the far left wears a long, grey robe with a golden mayor-like livery collar around his neck.
Members from different faith groups came together to celebrate the breaking of the fast for the event in 2024

Saliha Ahmed, from the Pakistani Welfare Organisation, said Bristol's Grand Iftar is an opportunity to "connect with people you might not normally meet".

Speaking to BBC Radio Bristol, she said: "It's an opportunity, an ice breaker, for communities to come together and food is that vehicle."

The event started in Bristol in 2017 as a way of promoting peace and unity in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing.

This will be the second Grand Iftar hosted inside Bristol's biggest Church of England venue, with an event taking place at College Green in 2023.

The Reverend Canon of the Cathedral, Neil Patterson, said he was happy to bring "different communities together".

He said: "As Ramadan falls earlier each year, the cathedral decided to say 'we're right next to College Green where it happens, we're a warm space'.

"We want to contribute to a mutual understanding of the city.

"We're going to encourage people [to chat] when they come and sit down with a meal, providing little cards to talk about things that are important to you - how do you mark the year, do you ever have special meals?

"Communities can recognise different communities can do things in different ways but actually we've got lots in common."

Those who want to attend the vegan and vegetarian-friendly event, on 13 March from 17:00 GMT, are asked to book tickets in advance.

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