From fashion to food, from the beauty industry to households, almost every soul is busy in preparation of Ramadan, which traditionally sees observant Muslims abstain from eating and drinking anything from dawn till sunset, as well as some other activities to celebrate the revelation of the Quran. Having said that, we Bengalis are true food fanatics, and perhaps tend to indulge ourselves more during the month of Ramadan than we do at other times.Then again, with all the sehri and iftar deals offered by the restaurants and cafes, it really is hard to resist. And then there are the elaborate iftar parties that no longer only revolve around the classics like lebur sherbet, chhola, piyaju, beguni, muri and jilapi; the list of items on the iftar table is endless. Given our love affair with cuisines from different cultures, ICE Today gives you a scoop of the best iftar and sehri deals in town that include Hakka, Japanese, Continental, Indian and Middle Eastern fare! Sehri is no longer a boring, stay-at-home affair, thanks to the peer pressure created by the ‘check-ins’ on Facebook that lure us out in the middle of the night from the comforts of our den. Eating out for sehri has emerged as quite a popular culture. ICE predicts, sooner than later, extravagant sehri parties will become a trend, so if you want to explore more of your culinary skills this month, just follow our Recipes for exotic sehri treats from around the globe.
If you’re done dreaming about food, snap out to get more than a sneak peek of the happening fashion scene-labels and designers have no time to rest during this peak season just to make sure you are not running out of choices during the Eid shopping rave. Style will surely resolve most of your dilemmas on what to grab and what to skip and what combination of accessories, make-up, and hairdo will help create your personal style. Follow beauty expert Nahila Hedayet’s tips for common skin problems arising due to heat and dehydration in summer this Ramadan.Quench your thirst with a tall glass of fresh juice from Thanda Garam, featured in Hangout.
Besides food and fashion fervor, philanthropy is another encouraged practice during Ramadan, although anytime of the year is good for a noble deed. If you need inspiration, scan our Breaking Barriers section, featuring Sadia Moyeen. Renowned as a beauty expert, last month, she juggled her time between her beauty salon and a beautiful cause she funded, fitting prosthetic limbs to local amputees in collaboration with Jaipur Foot, Bangladesh Orthopedic Society and NITOR. Now that’s what we call philanthropy.
Managing work, family, finances and social obligations during Ramadan with added effects from the crazy, multiplied traffic on road is definitely a challenge, let’s hear how a few high profile personalities do it like it’s a piece of cake. Our Cover Focus features on real celebrities like a top bank’s CSR head Zara Mahbub, record label owner Saadi Rahman, celebrated beauty expert Farzana Shakil and designer Shahrukh Amin, disclosing to us how they manage to keep it cool in midst of all the chaos.
Now is also a good time to plan a vacation, so go on a road trip! If you’re seeking a weekend break without taking a heavy toll on your wallet, we suggest something scenic like Srimongol, its tea estates, fresh air, local food might have mesmerizing effects on you like it had on a Portuguese traveler; get his perspective on this tourist hotspot in our travel column. If travelling is not an option anytime soon, to soothe your nerves, contemplate going for a spa break featured in our Beauty Alert or stop by at one of the art galleries to admire the artworks in one of the exhibitions, you’d be amazed how your mind becomes energized. See our review on the art exhibitions held recently that became talk of the town. Fans of Fuad, get his latest update in Tunes and more about his album Hit Factory, featuring his work as a musician over the last five years. Stay healthy and we hope you have a wonderful month of Ramadan. Keep an eye out for the next issue of ICE Today as we promise it to be as brilliant as this one.