On Tuesday, April 18, Shepparton Art Museum hosted Culture and Co’s second annual iftar event, a communal meal and breaking of fast for the Muslim community.
Culture and Co is a social enterprise that founder Mohammed Yassin said existed to “utilise strengths of cultural differences to create harmony and strengthen our multicultural community”.
“It’s a venture dedicated to delivering cultural training and consulting services to government agencies and service providers,” he said.
“I believe that our cultural celebrations can be vehicles for bringing people together and creating spaces for human connections.”
Mr Yassin came to Australia as a refugee around 20 years ago, and settled with his family in Shepparton.
He completed his VCE in Shepparton before moving to Melbourne, and he has lived there for the past 17 years.
Mr Yassin said he still had family in Shepparton and visited often.
“In Melbourne there is a number of iftar events, and I would love for it to become a tradition in Shepparton,” he said.
During the ninth month on the Islamic calendar Muslims participate in Ramadan, fasting from sunrise to sunset.
Iftar is the evening meal that breaks the fast during each day of Ramadan.
The other meal during Ramadan, which is taken in the morning before dawn, is called suhoor.
Ramadan has finished for Muslims worldwide, and community members across the Goulburn Valley have begun Eid celebrations.
“Shepparton is a small regional town in size but rich in cultural and ethnic diversity,” Mr Yassin said.
“For me, Shepp is one of the most successful multicultural regional centres in Australia, with four Islamic mosques and numerous religious and community centres, most of which were represented at the iftar event.
“Last year we had 80 people, this year we had 120.”
State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe and Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell, as well as City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali, attended the event.
The event had many sponsors, including Greater Shepparton City Council, the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District, and La Trobe University.