During the Ashara Mubraka gatherings, reflecting a true spirit of community service, Dawoodi Bohra volunteers came forward in thousands to prepare and serve more than 150,000 meals to community members every day in Dubai.
More than 75,000 Bohra community members gathered in Dubai for the 10-day Ashara Mubaraka gatherings, with around 50,000 flying down from abroad.
Thousands of Bohra volunteers – young and old, men and women, are assisting in serving the attendees around 150,000 meals for lunch and dinner every day during the 10-day gatherings across different centers in the UAE.
The Dawoodi Bohra Community organizes Ashara Mubaraka congregations every year in the first 10 days of the new Islamic year. This year, Dubai has been chosen to hold the congregations.
How food is prepared and served:
Catering to the different tastes of attendees, the menus at the centers were carefully arranged, showcasing the rich and various flavors of the UAE’s chosen. Moreover, local and international nutritionists were consulted to ensure delicious and nutritious meals.
Sakina Shakir, who flew from Bangalore, India, to attend congregations, said, “The food served here was a true reflection of the UAE’s cultural diversity, and it’s heartening to see the community’s dedication towards sustainability. The chefs and cooks were paying attention to every minute detail.
Locally-sourced procedure:
Mosleh Ismail, executive chef at Dubai World Trade Center, who is directing arrangements of menus for serving around 27,000 attendees in DWTC, said the menus are meticulously planned, keeping in mind the cultural and culinary preferences of both the UAE and global Dawood Bohra community.
He said, ” We embraced locally – sourced produce like hydroponic veggies, olives, dates, and the exquisite Hatta from honey, seamlessly aromatizing these ingredients into our dishes. It’s a pleasant culinary journey that celebrates the rich flavors of the region”.
The Bohra community followed its tradition of eating food in a ‘thaal’- a large round plate- around which members sit in groups of eight and share meals to facilitate bonding among the members and eliminate chances of food waste.
Zero food wastage policy:
During the Ashara Mubaraka congregations,
the Dawoodi Bohra community in the UAE adopted a Zero Food Wastage approach at its Mawaids( dining centers), showing the epitome of perfect commitment towards sustainability.
Also, the ‘Dana Committee’ was formed, which encourages and oversees that no food is wasted in agreement with the policy of the UAE to mark 2023 as the ” Year of Sustainability.”
Ibrahim Zoher, a member of the Dana Committee, said, ” We carefully manage portion sizes, encouraging attendees to take only what they need. Any surplus food is promptly distributed to those in need, promoting a spirit of giving and compassion”.
The Ashara Mubarak gatherings in the UAE also aligned with the UAE’s waste-to-energy – initiative, in which organic waste collected during meals is converted into energy.
