Muslims have welcomed their neighbors of all faiths to share a Ramadan iftar meal at a local mosque in Ipswich.

The event, attended by 600 people on Sunday night, has also invited about 50 non-Muslim guests.

“Every room has been full of people of all different backgrounds,” said chair Nurul Chowdhury, The BBC reported.

“It’s wonderful to see everybody coming together,” he said

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“The mosque doesn’t just belong to the Muslims. The mosque belongs to the community that the mosque is in.

“We try to make it as such and hence every opportunity we get, we invite our neighbors and our friends who are of faith or no faith to come and join us and enjoy our events together.”

As a non-Muslim attending iftar, Kate Hodgetts, head teacher of nearby St Helens Primary School, said: “I think it’s really nice to see the mix of people. It would be good to see some more families.

“I’ve brought my two boys along. They’re in a rural school and they do not have this diversity and I think it’s really important that different cultures open their doors to people to learn more about it, so we can get rid of some ignorance in the world.”

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Sue Raychaudhuri, who attended with her husband, added: “I’m a Hindu girl from a Hindu family, my husband’s Christian, but I have a lot of Muslim friends in Ipswich.

“To break fast together, it’s such a wonderful feeling to show solidarity and support as well.”

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.

In Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.

Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to become closer to Allah through prayer, self-restraint, and good deeds.