SINGAPORE: The Muslim fasting month of Ramadan gets a unique twist in Singapore.

As it coincides with preparations for the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival which falls on September 14, one community organisation has come up with a novel idea of a halal mooncake.

Like vegetarian mooncakes, the pastry is made from vegetable oil, instead of lard, which some traditional recipes call for.

The halal version uses traditional lotus paste filling mixed with chopped dates, which are traditionally eaten by Muslims when they break fast at sundown.

800 of these halal mooncakes will be given out to some 700 participants at a community event this Sunday.

Lending the organisers a hand, Dr Amy Khor, Mayor of South West District, and 30 non-Muslim students from Nan Hua High School made a batch of 250 mooncakes on Wednesday.

Besides trying their hand at mooncake making, the students also attended a briefing on Islamic culture and a guided tour of a mosque.

The rest of the mooncakes will be made by cooked food cooperative, NTUC Foodfare. - CNA/vm