ISSUE 87 | MAR 2023

March is here with the 87th edition of MBE Business Magazine.

Not only was February 2nd, Ground Hog day, the whole month seemed to be Ground Hog month when compared to January. Unseasonably mild temperatures and very little snow highlighted January and February which are supposed to be the cruelest and coldest months of the year. For someone like myself who didn’t believe in Global Warming, I am now having second thoughts.

As we turn the calendar to March, spring is just around the corner. You know winter is pretty well over when baseball starts it spring training and basketball and hockey are in their respective stretch drives before the playoffs begin.

Four significant days in March are daylight savings time, St Patrick’s Day, First day of spring and the beginning of Ramadan.

Daylight Savings Time begins every year on the 2nd Sunday of March. At 2:00 A.M. (est) Sunday morning (Saturday night) on March 12th, the opposite of what we did in October, we do in March. The clocks are turned ahead one hour providing us with an additional hour of daylight. Although we lose an hour of sleep, we now have longer days of sunlight.

St Patrick’s Day falls on March 17th to honour the Patron Saint of Ireland, St. Patrick. He played a significant role in introducing and celebrating the Irish culture across the world. The most notable tradition that has lasted over the years is the tradition of wearing "green". Many pubs, bars, and restaurants host parties, or have special offers to honor the day.

March 20th is the first official day of spring (spring equinox). It happens every year usually on March 20 (some years it can take place on March 19 or 21), and it is the day that marks the beginning of spring. Although we may get the occasional winter storm, with warmer temperatures, it usually doesn’t take long for the snow to melt.

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, a holy month for Muslims, who fast, pray and practice introspection during this time. In 2023, Ramadan begins on March 22 and ends on April 20 with the celebration of Eid.

Ramadan is a time for Muslims to practice introspection and better themselves, by practicing self-discipline and control, as well as a time to strengthen their faith and devotion. This is why fasting is practiced during Ramadan, as it is believed to cleanse the soul, and redirect the heart away from worldly sins and into spiritual improvement.

In this issue, you will find contributing articles from many different personalities including the management team of MBE - Mr. Mansoor Naqvi, Mr. Mahmood Naqvi and Mr. Alamdar Hussain.