But this was no ordinary iftar. India is in the midst of a general election during which the prime minister, Narendra Modi, and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) are seeking a third term, and factionalism is rife.
The BJP, a formidably welloiled machine, is going all out in Karnataka because it is the only state in south India where it has a foothold. For a party with vaunting ambitions to reshape the political landscape for generations to come, this has frustrated the leadership.
In the last general election in 2019, the BJP won 25 of Karnataka's 28 seats. But the BJP may not be able to repeat such a decisive victory this time round; while the Congress party has languished in opposition for 10 years at a national level, it won a handsome victory in state elections last year.
It is not yet clear whether BJP candidates will rely on the party's familiar tactics of drawing on religious divisions and polarising voters, but the campaign has the potential to turn vicious.
Amid such a climate, the organisers of the iftar decided, they said, to make a point of inviting Hindus and Christians to share the meal earlier this month.
"The Hindu-Muslim polarisation in this area is so deep after decades of the BJP's divisive politics that we thought we'd make it an iftar for everyone. Let us sit, eat, talk and remember we are all Indians," said Ibrahim Mohammed, who has several businesses in the area.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 26, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 26, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Parry: Premier League would be 'sterile' without EFL
Rick Parry has accused the Premier League of undervaluing the football pyramid, arguing that without the \"variety and competition\" that come from relegation and promotion the game would become \"sterile\".
Official review: Coote faces FA investigation as Webb breaks silence on video
The Football Association has launched its own investigation into the behaviour of the referee David Coote after remarks he made about Jürgen Klopp in a video that surfaced online this week.
Match-by-match: Coote's Liverpool games as an official
Referee who has been caught on video in a foul-mouthed tirade against Jürgen Klopp officiated 21 Liverpool games. Andy Hunter takes a look at the decisions in each one
Wretched, haunted but human: a referee shaped by modern football
Is it really a surprise that an official or someone similar should end up glassy-eyed and spitting toxins on a sofa?
Hall's audition adds intrigue to England's Nations League finale
In-form Newcastle defender can show Thomas Tuchel he can be the solution to perennial problem on the left
'It's about robust planning, proper financial control'
is about \"preventing the shocks\" that have disrupted the sport in recent years.
'People are going to see women's boxing at its very best'
The super-lightweight world champion Katie Taylor says her rematch against Amanda Serrano in Texas, as the main support act to Tyson v Paul, will be something special
Blindkilde Brown and Fujino help City avoid slip up
Manchester City maintained their 100% start in the Women's Champions League group stage as second-half goals from youngsters Laura Blindkilde Brown and Aoba Fujino were enough to beat a determined Hammarby side.
Players must cope with extra scrutiny, says Lewis
The England coach, Jon Lewis, said his players experienced a \"sharp learning curve\" about perception management in the fallout from their disastrous group-stage exit in last month's T20 World Cup.
No input from Jones in England's plan to upset Springboks
England will not be benefiting from the insider knowledge of their former Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones this weekend after it emerged that neither their players nor key staff members have been in contact with the Irishman, still supposedly employed remotely by the Rugby Football Union (RFU).