Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr in a fast-paced society, what can we all learn from these festivities?

On April 9, 10, or 11th, depending on where you are in the world, 1.9 billion people celebrated Eid-al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, including some of our colleagues.

We spoke with Arman Shaikh , who works as a Technical Project Manager in our Mumbai office. We asked him what Eid means to him, and what his celebration will look like:

I will celebrate Eid in Mumbai with my family. They have been traveling for some months, so it’s a time to reunite and share gifts, talk about the future, and enjoy moments together.

Ramadan is a month of internal and external detox, a month of giving, helping others, and celebrating with everyone.?For Arman, Ramadan teaches you to control yourself, set boundaries, spend time with yourself, help the community, and give to others, it makes people feel more connected to God.

At Boku, we believe that no one should ever feel excluded from celebrating the days that are important to them. More specifically, this means that we offer a level of flexibility for everyone to join (or not) in celebrations as they see fit. ?

Flexibility is something positive about working at Boku, as I can change my schedule and working time and participate in Ramadan without compromising the quality of my work.

?"Some of my coworkers work remotely during Ramadan to allow for personal reflection. For those who come to the office, there is plenty of fruit, nuts, and beverages available in the evening for breaking the fast."

At Boku, we make our holiday parties nondenominational, regardless of our beliefs.

"This is something very important, because it makes us more aware of other people's cultures and we try to include everyone in distinct celebrations. People are curious to learn about celebrations from other cultures", said Arman.

"Besides, while we’re at work it doesn’t matter what faith you practice. What matters is the quality of the work you deliver."

Celebrating Holi or attending a Holiday dinner aren’t introduced as religious celebrations for only a few, but as an opportunity for everyone to get together. There’s truly a sense of acceptance and tolerance that enables people to speak their minds freely, without fear of being judged.?

Sharing your personal point of view and experience with colleagues is a great way to foster understanding and empathy. For Arman, it means that observing Ramadan has the potential to enhance the workplace culture. "Practices such as assisting the needy (sponsoring education, providing clothes, distributing food packages) foster a strong sense of community." For him personally, Ramadan is about learning self-restraint and self-reflection and showing empathy for the less fortunate.

"During Ramadan, I focus on strengthening my bonds with other people and helping the community. Of course, it can be challenging at times, but after a day or two it already becomes easier. And after Ramadan ends, the enjoyment you get from sharing and celebrating with your family makes you feel more connected to the people around you and to God." ?

Fasting is a beautiful ritual for spiritual strength and self-reflection.

Boku wishes you a happy Eid-al-Fitr! Feel free to leave your comment below ??

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