The Holy Month of Ramadan is one of the most interesting and exciting periods in the year for Radio Tarana.
It is also one of the busiest months, when the radio station designs special programmes to evince and sustain the interest of our growing number of listeners in New Zealand and other parts of the world.
The challenge every year is to offer information and items that are of educative value for Muslims and other segments of the population.
It is a matter of gratification and pride for us that Pawan Prasad, a member of our dedicated team, has once again been at the forefront of our Ramadan programmes.
She rises at 2 am to come to our studios and goes on air an hour later, conversing with people on a number of issues that sustain listener interest. Listeners in Australia, Canada, Fiji, India, UK and the US share with the Tarana family their experience in life, work and of course of the Holy Month.
The programme, called, Sehri, is the most significant aspect of Ramadan, when Muslims offer Fajir, leading up to dawn, signifying the beginning of fasting for the day. The three-hour programme comprises Nazums, Bayans, competitions and features Islamic scholars and lecturers from many parts of the world.
No Commercials
Radio Tarana respects the sentiments of the Muslim community and as such, the Sehri programme is devoid of all commercials and advertisements.
The three-hour, non-commercial programme is devoted to Islam, the Holy Quran and the Muslim community in New Zealand and rest of the world.
I am also gratified that our listeners have always appreciated this gesture.
Our live crossover to Radio Fiji to join listeners in that country is another interesting and important part of this programme. The two radio stations create a synergy and a common platform, facilitating people in both countries to share their greetings and thoughts on the Holy Month with their families, associates and friends.
Radio Tarana continued to achieve a series of firsts this year, among which was the introduction of new speakers from other parts of the world.
Our Eid Card competition has also been successful with numerous entries.
I wish to express my gratitude to Davies Holden Manukau (Al Hussein), Get Fresh (Otahuhu), Mohammad’s Halal Meats, Nippon Autos, Roop Darshan, Sona Sansar, Spice Town, Tarnica Cars and Travel 2000 Limited for sponsoring the various aspects of our Ramadan programme.
People’s Station
I also recognise the efforts of Hemant Parikh, a member of our Radio Tarana team in making this programme a success.
My thanks to speakers from New Zealand including Maulana Alim Mustafa Hudawi, Mulana Baheer Ahmad Diwan, Maulana Imtiyaz Javed Malik, Maulana Rehmani Khan, Maulana Sayyed Mohd Yawar Razvi and Mulana Sheikh Adbul Jabbar (Wellington)
I am also grateful to overseas speakers Maulana Ahmad Mukaddam (Cape Town South Africa), Maulana Daud Khepi (UK), Maulana Faiyaz Ali Khan (Fiji), Maulana Iliyaz (UK), Maulana Musa Patel (Fiji) and Zulfikar (Fiji) and the children who participated in our Ramadan competitions.
I also wish to thank brother Ahmed Bhamji and brother Mohammed Moses for their generous contribution in organising this programme.
Their efforts to enhance the Sehri programme on Radio Tarana are worthy of high commendation.
I wish our advertisers, sponsors, associates, listeners and well-wishers Eid Mubarak.
Robert Khan is Radio Tarana managing director of Radio Tarana based in Auckland.
