At BGS, the traditions of Ramadan and the joyous celebrations of Eid hold great significance. During Ramadan, many Muslims around the world observe fasting from dawn until sunset.

When the fast is broken, families and communities come together for Iftar, a special meal enjoyed with a variety of delicious dishes provided by the community and the Greens Kitchen team.

In keeping with this spirit, members of our school community came together for a memorable BGS Iftar on Wednesday 26th March. Organised by the Diversity and Inclusion Team, South Asian Society, staff and Green’s Kitchen, the event brought everyone together in the Dining Hall, creating a warm and inclusive atmosphere to celebrate the breaking of the fast.

The evening began with recitals, followed by students and a visiting Imam sharing their thoughts on Ramadan and the significance of Iftar. They spoke about how Ramadan is a time not only for fasting but also for reflection, self-discipline and giving to others. Each perspective offered an insight into the different experiences within our community, bringing people together in understanding.

Tireni Salako (Upper Sixth) commented: “I enjoyed every moment of putting together this year’s BGS Iftar. I have loved working with all the students and staff who were involved; all their hard work and effort paid off to make the event such a success. It was truly an excellent way to say goodbye to my time as Diversity and inclusion Captain here!”

Miss Choudhury (Junior School Teaching Assistant) said: “BGS hosted our fourth annual Ramadan Iftar event, bringing together students, parents, families and staff, alongside an Imam. The sense of togetherness was clear as the community listened to informative presentations about Ramadan, took part in optional congregational prayers led by the Imam and heard students recite verses from the Qur’an with great care. The strong support for this event since its inception in April 2022 reflects the school’s ethos of recognising and valuing every member of our community.”

Mr Gracie (Deputy Head) reflected: “The Iftar event was a real joy to be a part of. The students had done all the planning and preparation and put together a lovely set of decorations alongside some really informative presentations about Ramadan. I felt very proud of them. It was also heartwarming to connect with so many parents and family members around sharing food. It was a super reminder of what being part of a school community is and we were grateful so many people took the time to join us and support our students.”

Mrs Tombs (Catering Manager) said: “It's been wonderful to see how big our Iftar event has become, from the first one where we had around 20 students to this week where we saw around 100 people join us for breaking fast, the students put so much effort in, the room looks stunning, the presentations were lovely and informative and the food brought in absolutely delicious. It’s really important to the Greens Kitchen team to support all the cultures in our community and Iftar is a highlight in the diary for us. Our Chef made a delicious lamb curry, paneer curry and rice to add to the wide variety of food that our community brought to the event.”

Amaya (Year 3) said: “It was lovely to have a whole celebration dedicated to breaking the fast together. We did not have this kind of celebration at my old school, and that used to make me sad, so it makes me happy that we do here. It is a very inclusive celebration. I love how this school celebrates all religions, not just one. We are all treated the same, which makes me feel included and shows that this school really thinks about others.”

Safa (Year 4) said: “It was really fun, the decorations were very pretty, and I really liked the little date boxes. I never prayed at school before and it felt nice to be able to pray at school, and what I found very interesting was to hear the Adhan (Islamic call to prayer) live as I have previously only heard the Adhan from afar, so that was very interesting for me”.

Members of the BGS community have taken their time to share their thoughts about the teachings behind the holy month and the Iftar event. Click here.  

We wish Ramadan Mubarak to you all.