Image description, from left to right: Gawaine Powell Davies, Buddhist Council of NSW; Nick Kaldas, Multicultural NSW Advisory Committee; Venerable Miaoyou, Nan Tien Temple; Ahmet Orhan Polat, Affinity Intercultural Foundation.

 

Author: Gawaine Powell Davies
Date: 21st March 2025

 

Blooming Together:

Buddhist Muslim shared iftar dinner

 

On March 11th, Buddhist and Muslim communities came together for our first joint iftar. Iftar events celebrate Ramadan, the month in which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and share their evening meal with family, friends and community. ‘Blooming Together: Iftar in the Spirit of Peace and Enlightenment’ was an interfaith event that was the combined effort of the Buddhist Council of NSW, Affinity Intercultural Foundation and Nan Tien Temple.

100 guests came to the dinner at Nan Tien’s Parramatta temple: Buddhists from a range of traditions and cultures, Muslims and friends from other faiths and communities. We listened to a call to prayer and chanting of Buddhist sutras, an explanation of Ramadan and a recitation from the Qur’an. The keynote speech was delivered by Nick Kaldas, Chair of the Multicultural NSW Advisory Board, with responses from Prof. Denise Kirkpatrick from Nan Tien Institute and Rev. Mata Havea Hiliau, Moderator of the Uniting Church in NSW and ACT. The Three Rivers Ensemble provided an enchanting blend of traditional and modern Islamic spiritual music. We shared a delicious vegetarian Afghan meal.

Ven. Chueh Shan, her venerables and volunteers, created the perfect environment for the dinner at the Parramatta Nan Tien temple. Guests were offered a guided tour of the temple and many commented on how peaceful the temple was.

This was an important evening for the Buddhist Council of NSW. We have wanted to have an iftar dinner for several years. This is part of our commitment to engage with other faith communities, recognise what we have in common, and look for ways in which we can support each other. And it was a pleasure to share the occasion with Affinity and Nan Tien.

Learn more about our advocacy and interfaith engagement here.