Ramadan Festival UK

INTRODUCTION

The Ramadan Festival has been running successfully in Holland for the past three years or so and has this year launched in Belgium and Norway with France and the US in the pipeline. Our intention is to extend this success to the UK by arranging a month of Arts & Intercultural events, which will highlight the diversity of British mainstream and Muslim cultural engagement that exists in the UK. The annual event will also help raise the standard of dialogue on extremism to a more nuanced and sophisticated level in order to promote greater mutual understanding and provide a chance for Muslim communities to shout out a clear message against the extremists through the cultural initiatives.

Ramadan Festival UK 2008
This year the organisation is extending its remits to the United Kingdom and in partnership with Arts Versa UK will endeavour to promote the cultural diversity in the UK and will emphasize the importance of Arts and Culture as a means of promoting intercultural and interfaith dialogue targeting in particular isolated communities. Consequently, the goals for this year involve increasing the solidarity between different groups in society. These goals are based on the underlying notion that during the month of Ramadan, Muslims are even more than normally expected to show respect to their fellow humans, and thus have to open themselves to tolerance, charity, fraternization and reflection. read on...

Ramadan Festival Holland '05-'07

Following the great success of the Ramadan Festival 2005 - 2007 the fourth is now being scheduled for August/September 2008. Initiated by Ahmed Larouz, the two main goals of the previous Festivals were, closing the social gap between Muslims and non-Muslims. These goals were achieved through acquaintance and dialogue in various forms and activities between diverse groups in society. The unfamiliarity between people was taken away and people were offered an insight in each others' world and experiences. Over 150 Muslim organizations, mosques, other (non-Muslim) organizations and many other interested parties - such as Muslim families and Prime Minister Balkenende - worked together and organized iftars, lectures, debates, hospitality dinners and a sparkling Eid ul Fitr for kids. All in all, the Ramadan Festival 2005 to 2007 has been a great success.

ACTIVITIES

1. Acquaintance and dialogue: this will lead to insight into each others' experiences and lives and to an increased mutual understanding and respect between people with different cultural and religious backgrounds.

2. Exchange of knowledge: by sharing knowledge understanding can be stimulated.

read on...

NEWSPAPER CUTTINGS:

Daily Ausuf, 5th September 2008

Asian Post, 11th September 2008

The Nation, 5th September 2008

Interfaith tours at the V&A September 2008

See the Ramadan Festival
Facebook group here

sajid

ramadan festival at regents park
Maryam Hashemi a visual artist was on hand to discuss her works at the exhibition of Islamic Visual Arts Crafts Literature Fashion and Food at Regents Park in late August 2008.
The exhibition ushered in the imminent start of Ramadan Festival UK 2008 . Muslim Master Chef Shaheen Bibi presented a talk on an array of cuisine from the Islamic World including Moorish Mughal Persian and Ottoman cuisine.

Sajid Ahmed Khan performing at Eid in the Square at Trafalgar square on September 11th

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Councillor Mushtaq Lesharie, left, with Ramadan Festival director Mohsin Abbas at Eid in the Square

FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

Islamic Geometry Workshop

Wed 5 Nov

Geometrical Patterns feature heavily in Islamic architecture...

more...

RECENT EVENTS:

Traditional and contemporary: A Taste of Islamic Food and Art
Mon 6th October
at South Woodford Muslim Community Centre
Welcomes you to an evening of exquisite Islamic art and delicious food...

Eid in the Square
organised by the Mayor of London Supported by Ramadan Festival
Outdoor Souk/Bazaar with arts and cultural performances, exhibitions and workshops.
11th October 12:00 – 17:00

Trafalgar Square

The Night Of Power- The Recitation at The Islamic centre, Maida Vale
Friday 26th September 4pm-8pm
Join us for a Taste of Ramadan- Iftar on the eve of arguably the most auspicious day of the Muslim calendar...

Moroccan Music and Storytelling at Leighton House Museum

Wed 24 September

Let your imagination fly to worlds of magic and fantasy, humour and folly with Hassan Erraji...

Ramadan Nights at The Barbican Centre
Free event over the weekend Talks, Workshops, Open Rehearsals and Free Concerts in the Barbican foyer in partnership with Ramadan Festival UK and Arts Versa UK
Starting 25th September 2008
See Barbican website

Ramadan Festival at St Ethelburga's
Tuesday 16th September
A unique night of Poetry Dhikr and spiritual Music from Persia Senegal and Pakistan was led by British based Poet Mahmood Jamal...

Ramadan Festival at the Lord Mayor of Londons's Iftar
Monday 15th September
Mohsin Abbas, Director of Ramadan Festival UK, in his keynote speech at this years Iftar for Muslim City employees emphasised the need for a Cultural Rennaisance amongst Muslims in Britain. Leadership from the creatives and more active engagement with mainstream Britain as a means of addressing extremism through the projection of Cultural Islam.

Balagan Boogaloo
Cargo, 83 Rivington Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3AY
Thursday 28th August from 19:30
a night of storming Islamic and Hebraic hiphop from some of the world's best..

Ramadan Festival at Regents Park - 25th August 2008 :
An exhibition of Islamic Visual Arts Crafts Literature Fashion and Food formed the focal point for the souk / bazaar at the Regents Park Mosque.

Ramadan Festival Launch
Tanoura Dancers of Egypt
@ Hyde Park London
Sponsored by the Egyptian Cultural Affairs Department

read Daily Jang article