Exploring Sacred Times.

Fasting and Feasting And Spiritual Rhythms.

Sacred Times: A Conversation About Fasting, Feasting, and Finding the Divine

Fr. Elvis had called me earlier that week, “I want you to moderate the discussion at the Sadhbhavana Forum. The topic is Sacred Times. It’s about reflecting on the spiritual rhythms across religions.”

“Father, ‘sacred’ as in…?” I ventured cautiously, wondering if I’d accidentally signed up for a deep dive into Gregorian calendar disputes.

“Simplify it,” he replied. “Look at the spiritual schedules—moments of fasting, feasting, contemplation, and gratitude across faiths. Let’s listen and enrich one another.”

“Enrich, yes. Like my evenings contemplating dinner menus,” I muttered. Somewhere, a devout soul was marking the beginning of Ramadan, while another lit candles for Advent, and yet another was likely stretching for a Navaratri dance marathon.

An Interfaith Exchange

The session began with Maulana Sohail Quazmi’s serene presence at the table. “Ramzan,” he began, “isn’t just fasting; it’s about transformation. You sense the hunger of others and grow humble. Food becomes more than sustenance—it’s divine bounty.”

My mind wandered briefly to my own fasting attempt last Lent, which lasted precisely until someone mentioned biryani. Transformation, indeed.

Sri Harpreet Singhji chimed in, “In Sikhism, every moment is sacred. We don’t set aside specific times because every day is a gift. Morning prayers invite divine grace, and evening prayers are for gratitude.”

I imagined my mornings—less divine grace, more caffeine and chaos. Clearly, I had some work to do.

Sister Sangeeta from the Brahmakumaris shared an unconventional perspective on Raksha Bandhan. “It’s more than tying a rakhi. It’s a time to renew all relationships, with others and with oneself.”

“I wonder if I can tie one on my bank account to keep it from running away,” whispered a cheeky participant nearby.

Rev. Fr. Hilario took the floor next, tackling the displacement of Christmas. “Originally, it was a time of deep self-reflection, mirroring the cycle of the sun—death and resurrection. Now, it’s more about tinsel and Amazon delivery trucks.”

“Father, I think Amazon delivers introspection too,” I offered. “It’s just tucked in the self-help section.”

Sacred and Profane Time

The conversation veered into profound territory as we discussed the dichotomy of sacred and profane time. Mircea Eliade’s concept floated around—how festivals allow us to escape the ordinary and return to the primordial chaos before the world began.

“Primordial chaos?” asked one participant. “Sounds like my kitchen before a family gathering.”

Someone else quipped, “Or my mind when my phone battery hits 5%.”

Father Elvis, ever the diplomat, redirected us to the agricultural origins of many sacred calendars. “Spring and harvest festivals are rooted in gratitude for nature’s cycles.”

Ah, the wisdom of agrarian life. Meanwhile, I had once thanked Swiggy for delivering pizza during a power cut. Sacred gratitude, modern edition.

A Patchwork Quilt of Faiths

The diversity in the room was astounding. Buddhists spoke of Vesak, celebrating the Buddha’s enlightenment. Jains reflected on Paryushana, a time for fasting and repentance. Hindus shared the vibrancy of Navaratri and Diwali.

One speaker, with a mischievous glint, said, “In India, every festival comes with three things: lights, sweets, and nosy relatives asking why you’re still single.”

Judaism’s representative spoke of Yom Kippur. “Fasting helps us focus on repentance and return to God.”

A voice from the back interjected, “In my house, fasting also leads to glaring at the person who dared to fry pakoras within a one-mile radius.”

We laughed, but the sincerity of each faith’s practices was deeply moving. Zoroastrian Nowruz celebrated renewal, while Sikh Gurpurabs honored their Gurus with quiet devotion.

The Essence of Sacred Times

What emerged from our discussion was this: sacred times are about pausing the rush of life to reflect, connect, and rejuvenate. Whether through fasting, feasting, prayer, or dance, these rituals provide moments to tap into something greater than ourselves.

As we closed the session, Fr. Elvis summed it up beautifully. “Sacred times remind us to hold space—not just for our faith but for others. It’s in this listening that we enrich one another.”

Walking out, I found myself marveling at the mosaic of faiths, each thread adding its color to the shared human story. Sacred times, I realized, weren’t confined to temples or mosques or churches. They were in the quiet moments of gratitude, in the rituals of renewal, and sometimes, in the laughter shared over dinner menus.

That evening, as I contemplated my own sacred time, I decided it was time to pause and simply be. With a cup of tea in hand, I toasted to the divine rhythms that shape us all—and maybe even to the person frying pakoras somewhere.