(Photo courtesy of FMO’s Suleman Nagdi)

Harun Nasrullah

Members of the Hindu and Muslim communities will dine together as part of a new charity designed scheme to build friendships and understanding between the faith groups. Leicester-based interfaith charity, St Philip’s Centre, is launching ‘Come Dine Together’, scheme modelled on the Channel 4’s ‘Come Dine with Me’ which sees strangers eating together and getting to know one another.

The scheme, which started on February 1, coincided with the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week, a period which allows faith groups to become aware of each other by building ties as well as being a focal point from which all people of goodwill can recognise that the common values they hold, far outweigh the differences they have.

20 Hindu families who are paired with Muslim families, will host each other.
“We are all the same and the only difference is that we have different religions and cultures which make us unique. We are welcoming people from a different faith into our home to introduce them to our world and for us to learn about their religion and perspectives on life,” said Nafeesa Katib, a Muslim who is welcoming a Hindu family into her home.

Her Hindu counterpart Nima Suchak said, “It has always been important for me to have friends of all faiths and backgrounds. I’m very grateful to the St Philip’s Centre for this initiative to bring us together as families and for us all to realise that we are stronger and better together.”

Riaz Ravat, Deputy Director of St Philip’s Centre, said, “The currency of interfaith work is food. This vital need will form the basis of this important piece of work to initiate and harness friendships between Hindu and Muslim families who have never met before. We cannot be complacent about good community relations, and our hope is that these families continue to flourish their friendships in the long term.”

Suleman Nagdi, spokesperson from the Federation of Muslim Organisations, said “It’s a simple act but eating together presents a perfect opportunity for us to teach, share and show that we care for one another – and to build a stronger, more accepting city in the process”.