President Pranab Mukherjee hosted an iftar reception on Friday evening at Rashtrapati Bhavan which was attended among others by Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
Lok Sabha Speaker Meria Kumar, senior ministers Sharad Pawar, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Vayalar Ravi, Subodh Kanth Sahai and Pawan Bansal were present at the iftar along with prominent Muslims, diplomats of Islamic countries like Egypt, Iran and Turkey and bureaucrats.
The reception began with offering of prayers after which those observing 'Roza' broke their day long fast with dates and 'Sharbat'.
Special attention was paid to BJP veteran Advani, who was reported to have been sore over the arrangements made for him his party leaders during the 'At Home' reception on Independence Day and the swearing-in ceremony of the Vice President.
The President met all the invitees at Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan and later all of them proceeded for the dinner.
Among others who attended were Sitaram Yechurry (CPM), Tariq Anwar (NCP), Shivpal Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Supreme Court judges, senior officials and other public figures from various walks of life.
