IPOH: As dusk fell, hundreds of people gathered at Bulatan Sultan Azlan Shah, spreading picnic mats and sharing homemade dishes and bazaar treats as they waited for the azan (call to prayer) to break fast together.
The park became a lively sea of colour as families and friends sat on the grass, chatted and watched their children play before performing prayers together.
The place is a popular spot for Muslims to berbuka puasa and is especially crowded on weekends.
A group of former schoolmates were among those who gathered at the field.
Alieya Abdullah, 21, said the group of five friends had planned since the start of Ramadan to break fast together but only managed to meet on Sunday due to work commitments.
“Everyone has been busy, so today is the only day we could all come,” she said, adding that she also brought along her sister, eight, and four-year-old nephew.
All five of them, who studied together at SMK Tambun, bought their meals from a Ramadan bazaar at the roundabout.
Alieya said breaking fast there offers a different atmosphere from eating at home with family.
“When friends gather, we can talk about school days and share stories about our working lives,” she added.
Housewife Azizah Abdul Latif, 53, brought a spread of homemade dishes to the field to break fast with her veterinarian husband Dr Zulkifli Ahmad, 59, and other family members.
They enjoyed a spread of dishes such as rice, ayam bawang, fish, vegetables, mandarin oranges and bubur jagung.
“I thought it would be nice to cook and bring the food here instead of always buying from the bazaar.”
Syamsiah Sahat, 46, a civil servant and a mother of four, said she makes it a point to break fast with family members and office colleagues on weekends.
Having worked in Perak since 2023, she described the outing as an annual tradition to strengthen bonds, adding that she often buys extra food from the bazaar to share.
“It’s a nice change to break fast in a different atmosphere.”
Persatuan Pengamal Media Perak secretary Normawati Adnan, 42, said about 20 Perak journalists broke fast at the roundabout.
All of them did not have any events to cover in the evening and decided to meet up.
She added some of them brought tables and chairs while others came with mats.
Several couples also brought their children and homemade dishes.
“As for me, I did not cook. I bought food and drinks from the bazaar.
“Breaking fast here is fun and makes the Ramadan atmosphere livelier. It is a great way to relax and enjoy time with friends.”
Opened to the public in 2016, the park within the roundabout has grown into one of Perak’s most recognisable urban spaces, anchoring the modern township of Bandar Meru Raya.
Designed to serve as both a major traffic node and recreational green space, the 7.3ha area features jogging and cycling loops, open spaces for workouts and casual sports, children’s play areas and pop-up recreational features.
