New B.C. festival to celebrate Muslim holy month of Ramadan over 5 nights
Ramadan Fest B.C. is a week of night markets featuring food, shopping and prayer
Ramadan begins Friday night, as Muslims around the world start a month of spiritual reflection.
In B.C., a new night-time festival aims to support Muslim people in the Lower Mainland by offering a one-stop shop for food, gifts and a space for prayer, while also giving non-Muslims a place to go and learn about the religion and the holy month.
Ramadan Fest B.C. organizer Zubair Kerami said the Cloverdale-based festival is about bringing people together, and offering them everything they'll need for their Ramadan celebrations.
"These are the night markets where people can come and have a variety of options in terms of food and drinks, wonderful cuisines, but also great options for shopping," he told CBC's The Early Edition host Stephen Quinn.
Kerami said there will be plenty of decor, including twinkly lights set against the backdrop of the night sky. There will also be space set aside for worship, where a scholar will talk about the teachings of Islam.
"Within Metro Vancouver, you have to drive from A location to B location to make sure that you fulfil your needs," Kerami said. "We'd like to make sure that everything you need at night during the month of Ramadan ... it's not only convenience, but also it would give a variety of options."
During Ramadan, observers abstain from food, drink and other pleasures during daylight hours, but at night, they often gather with loved ones to feast and pray. Gifts are often exchanged during Ramadan, and Muslims make a point of donating to charity during this time.
At the Jamea Mosque in Surrey, staff and volunteers will host thousands of people each night for prayers and Iftar—the breaking of fast.
Imam Osama Raja, who leads the prayer at the mosque, says the month is more than just about fasting.
"What we aim to achieve from fasting is to reconnect with Allah, reconnect with God, and to improve our character," Raja told CBC News. "This month is about helping people."
Community members say fasting reminds them of the plight of those less fortunate and inspires people to make donations to various charitable causes.
"To know how they are feeling, it helps us to remember what they're going through during that time of their needs," said Said Abdullah, who was among many at the mosque on Friday to mark the beginning of the holy month.
B.C. Premier David Eby acknowledged the significance of Ramadan for the province's Muslim communities, particularly during what he called a "painful time" as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to unfold.
"As Muslim communities observe Ramadan, it is important we stand in solidarity against Islamophobia and all forms of hate," Eby said in a statement Friday. "All of us in B.C. should continue to build bridges with our neighbours of all faiths and backgrounds."
Ramadan is celebrated during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and begins on the first sighting of the new crescent moon.
It is believed that Allah revealed Islam's holy book, the Qur'an, to the prophet during this time.
The last 10 days of Ramadan are considered especially holy and significant.
This year, Ramadan will end on March 29. Ramadan concludes with Eid al-Fitr — the festival of the breaking of the fast.
The B.C. festival runs March 5-9, from 4 p.m. PT until 3 a.m. PT at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds.
With files from The Early Edition