• Thursday, March 28, 2024

Helping you stay connected during Ramadan and Eid

By: ShelbinMS

MAKING sure you can support your loved ones is why we exist. As an international cross-border money transfer company, we understand the importance of staying connected to family and friends back home.

Travel restrictions mean that many of our customers and employees will be observing Ramadan away from their loved ones for the second year in a row. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to continue supporting those dearest to them whilst lending a helping hand to the less fortunate during the holy season of Ramadan and Eid.

During Ramadan each year, we partner with individuals and organisations who share our values such as the Edhi Foundation last year to provide outreach services and meals to those in need.

This year, we’ve teamed up with Natasha Ahmed, a Muslim artist to illustrate some of the various Ramadan traditions across the globe.

Here are a couple of her illustrations and thoughts:

Pakistan WeeklyChaand Raat (Night of the Moon) in Pakistan

The night before Eid-al-Fitr is one filled with excitement and laughter. With families and friends gathering and looking out for a new moon – which indicates that it is the eve of Eid – people gather to exchange gifts, put up decorations and celebrate in the streets. The community exchanges a Chaand Raat Mubarak (Have a blessed night of the new moon) or Eid Mubarak (Blessings of the Eid day) between their loved ones and everyone in the community. Women also decorate their hands with henna which is what I chose to showcase in the illustration. The women are laughing and enjoying each other’s company as the new moon is sighted.

Pakistan WeeklyChawkbazar in Bangladesh

The Chawkbazar is a huge bazaar in Dhaka where Bangladeshis flock to during the month of Ramadan to break their fast. It is a street of vendors selling a huge variety of street foods from popular Bangladeshi fish dishes to more Mughal-era cuisines. Traders would set up their stores with their goods just after Asr prayer in preparation for that. The illustration depicts a street vendor serving a traditional Bangladeshi dish called Patla Khichuri which is a rice and lentil dish with an array of different spices. I wanted to show the business and colour in the streets of the Chawkbazar as well as the hussle and bussle.

Ahmed’s work: https://www.illustratedwardrobe.co.uk/

We know how important it is to support those less fortunate during this season and offer a number of International money transfer options including:

  • Bank transfer
  • Airtime top-up
  • Mobile money
  • Cash pick-up

During these uncertain times, it is more important than ever to stay connected to our loved ones and support those in need.

Eid Mubarak.

Pakistan Weekly

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