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undreds of Muslims from grassroots and marginalized communities joined breaking of the fast events held recently at two separate churches in Bandung, West Java, as a part of efforts to create a forum for interfaith dialogue.

Running for 14 years, the program was initiated by the Puan Amal Hayati Foundation.

Led by former first lady Sinta Nuriyah Abdurrahman Wahid, the foundation cooperated with various churches, mass organizations as well as cultural and humanitarian networks as part of the annual Ramadhan safari program in Java.

'€œThe objective is to help ease the burden of the poor, so they can fast, and most importantly, create harmony and a sense of togetherness among Indonesians,'€ Sinta said at the start of the program at the Hati Tak Bernoda Santa Perawan Maria church'€™s multi-purpose building earlier this week.

Around 250 people joined the events. They included pedicab drivers, street children, parking attendances, children with special needs and factory workers.

The event also featured an interfaith dialogue and art performances presented by reading movement group Lentera Nusantara, Percik Insani, which is concerned with children with special needs, Rumah Autis, which provides free therapy for children with autism and the Al Alfifiyah learning group.

Church leader Fabianus Muktiyarsa said he was happy participating in the program

 '€œI didn'€™t think twice to say yes when we were offered to host the event,'€ he said, adding that the event gave an opportunity to everybody to embrace differences.

Fabianus said differences should not be an excuse to make enemies.

'€œThere are no employers and employees. All are the same in front of God,'€ he said.

Sinta said people could learn about togetherness and harmony when they performed fasting. She said fasting taught human beings to control their thirst and hunger.

This, she said, would create empathy as they experienced the suffering of disadvantaged families who had to struggle to make ends meet.

'€œEmpathy causes love to grow. It will further nurture the sense of brotherhood among Indonesians,'€ Sinta said.

On the following morning, Shinta participated in the pre-dawn meal reception held at the multipurpose hall of Santo Michael Church, which was located close to Andir traditional market. She also visited the market to greet traders who could not join the reception.

The event, which took the theme of '€œFasting develops the nation'€™s magnanimity'€, was expected to call for a reflection of real problems faced by the community.

'€œWe hope the dialogue can become a national dialogue, especially as during this fasting month, Indonesians will have to choose their future leader who will determine the fate of this nation for the next five years,'€ said Yunanto, a member of the Bandung Diocese organizing committee.