World Festival

Location: ASU Hayden Lawn
Time: 10:30am - 2:30pm

FFC participated in the 19th Annual World Festival, which is held on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 on Hayden Lawn at ASU main campus. This annual event is one of the highlights of the Spring semester and has large number of participation by the campus community. More than 30 international ASU clubs were present at the festival. World Festival gave ASU students the chance to experience aspects of different cultures. Dishes from different cuisines have been served by the clubs. The members of FFC served Noah's Pudding (Asure) which was free and Baklava during the World Festival. Clubs also performed dances on stage such as traditional folk dances.

 

 

What is asure?
Asure is a dessert made from various grains, nuts, and fruits. It is completely vegetarian. The making of asure is a common practice among Muslim and Christian people in the Middle East (albeit dish has different names). The name itself comes from the Hebrew word “Asor” (the tenth). It is traditionally shared with friends and neighbors.

The Legend
There is a legend about the origin of this dessert. It is as sweet as the dessert itself: When Noah’s ark came to rest on Mount Ararat in northeastern Turkey, they felt that a feast of celebration was called for. But their supplies were exhausted. However, they hunted through the ark and every little bit of food they could find, they put into the pudding and make themselves a splendid feast of asure. Therefore, sharing is in the spirit of asure - it is the symbol of unity among God’s creatures. To commemorate that day, Muslims prepare Noah’s Pudding every year according to the Islamic calendar. The pudding is made by mixing dry beans and wheat together, and is then shared with neighbors and friends.

Sharing Noah’s pudding is a symbolic representation of the unity and essential relationship of humans to one another and to their Creator. People prepare the pudding at home and send a bowl to each of the neighbors in their neighborhood. As tradition goes the residents of forty houses to your east, west, north and south are considered neighbors. One has the responsibility of maintaining good relations with their neighbors regardless of what their religion or beliefs may be. Noah’s pudding stands for the harmony of differences. Different ingredients come together, without losing their original taste, to serve a unique delight in Noah’s pudding. Likewise, we invite and encourage people from diverse cultural backgrounds to dialogue with each other, without losing their own cultural tastes.

Some pictures from the event