site.btaPresident to Host Iftar to Mark Beginning of Ramadan

President Iliana Iotova will host the traditional iftar dinner on Friday to mark the beginning of Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims, the President's Press Secretariat reported.

Representatives of both the Muslim and other traditional religious communities in Bulgaria have been invited to the festive dinner. Guests will also include representatives of state institutions, the diplomatic corps, and figures from the fields of culture, education, and science.

Last year, when then president Rumen Radev (2017-2026) hosted the iftar, he said that it is increasingly important to stick together and support each other considering the divided times that we live in.

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. During this month, the Islamic prophet Muhammad began receiving the first signs of the Quran from the Almighty, said Sofia Regional Mufti Beyhan Mehmed last year before iftar. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. During this month, Muslims refrain not only from food and drink, but also from bad words and deeds, in order to strengthen their faith and feel empathy for those in need, Mehmed added. This is a time for spiritual purification, prayer, self-analysis, and striving to get closer to Allah, he said.