Members of the Muslim community in Basingstoke held a market for Ramadan-themed products on Sunday, March 19, in preparation for their major annual celebration.

Ramadan, expected to start on March 23, is a month during which Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk every day, and devote themselves to their faith.

British Muslims, and Muslims new to the UK coming from countries like Egypt, Pakistan, Syria, Algeria, and Turkey, gathered in Carnival Hall in Basingstoke’s town centre to attend the occasion.

The market, organised by local volunteers for the second year in a row, featured products typically associated with celebrating the holy month, but are hard to come by on the British high street.

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These included Ramadan-themed decorations such as lanterns, cushions, bunting and table covers. There were also traditional homemade desserts, and a jewellery stand. 

Sabah Jahin, a British-Egyptian sound engineer and one of the organisers, said the market also offered an opportunity for social connection especially because the Muslim community has recently grown in Basingstoke.

“Celebrating community events was difficult during the pandemic. And now [with the cost of living crisis] there are some people who cannot afford to fly out to meet extended families for such celebrations,” she said.

“It makes us feel that our culture is alive.”

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Her fellow organiser, Nada Elsayed, a British-Sudanese teaching assistant at a local school, was keen on showcasing the community members’ varied backgrounds at this year’s event.

She put together a stand featuring items from the visitors’ different countries, including children’s festive clothing from Algeria.

Malak Abuirhaiem, an obstetrician who arrived in the UK from Jordan last November, said the atmosphere at the event reminded her of the family gatherings she missed as she prepared to celebrate her first Ramadan away from home.

Adorned with traditional red, blue and yellow bunting, the hall was buzzing with festive music as children played and adults stood around chatting to friends or meeting newcomers.

A local Turkish family provided visitors with snacks including baklava and freshly-made gözleme, a traditional Turkish flatbread with a choice of filling.

Meanwhile, the Dialogue Society, a charity organisation, will hold a community iftar (breaking of the fast at sunset), in collaboration with the Fellowship Educational Society, at Queen Mary’s College on April 5.

The Basingstoke Discovery Centre will also host several Ramadan-themed activities for children alongside Easter and spring events over the coming weeks.