NOTE (Wednesday, April 27, 2022): The spelling of the last name of one of the program participants in one of the photo captions has been corrected.

* * * * *

A recent children’s program on Ramadan seemed to draw almost as much interest among adults as the youngsters who were the primary audience members.

Three dozen people gathered in the meeting room of C.H. Booth Library one recent afternoon for a special program that introduced some to the holiday of Ramadan.

While the 60-minute program was planned for ages 5-9, many parents seemed to be as interested as their children to learn about the Muslim holiday, celebrated through a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.

This year, Ramadan is being celebrated between April 1 and May 1.

The April 12 program was part of the “Ramadan in Public Libraries” initiative, which was launched in 2019, according to Mai Malkawi, who was in Newtown for April 12 event.

Malkawi and a group of mothers began presenting similar programs three years ago, she said last week.

“We did library events for Ramadan in Bridgeport, Fairfield, Milford, Monroe, and Trumbull, all in 2019,” she said. When the pandemic halted everything, however, that included the initiative. The project aims, she added via e-mail, “to organize several Ramadan story times in public libraries and make children’s crafts related to Ramadan inside libraries.”

Last year Malkawi offered livestream readings for the beginning of Ramadan and the conclusion — or Eid al-Fitr — via Bridgeport Public Library’s Facebook page.

This year the offerings have returned to in-person presentations at Bridgeport, Monroe, and Trumbull library, according to Malkawi. Newtown’s library also welcomed the program, which opened with Mariam Azeez reading It’s Ramadan, Curious George.

Children crowded the floor around Azeez as she read the 2016 title from H.A. Rey and Hena Khan, who combined their talents and backgrounds to create a story featuring one of the world’s most famous monkeys. In this book, George learns about Ramadan while celebrating the holiday with his friend Kareem and Kareem’s family.

“They go through a day of fasting and sharing, which is what Ramadan is all about,” Mariam said.

The reading was followed by the screening of a video that explained Ramadan and many of its practices and symbols — from breaking the fast and prayers to head scarves and Eid — to the young audience. Time for crafts then followed for the program’s remaining time.

Learning Traditions

Mariam was excited, she said after encouraging the children to begin their crafts, to be able to celebrate Ramadan with her wider community this year. A member of Al Hedaya Islamic Center, Mariam said she and others “haven’t been able to experience Ramadan as a community for two years.

“Joining together again, with others who are interested in learning with us, is very important,” she said.

When she was 11, Mariam worked with adult siblings Deborah Clarke and Terry Murphy to co-author Soulful Sydney Explores Diversity. The book, Mariam and Murphy told The Newtown Bee in July 2018, is not about recruiting people to a specific religion. It is, they said, about respecting one another and celebrating diversity.

Now 15, Mariam continues to visit schools, libraries, and other locations to speak to all ages about that message.

“The thing is,” she said, “many prejudices in society stem from not knowing each other.

“Kids don’t have the same filters as adults. They see crafts, and they want to have fun,” she added.

At two tables behind her, children reached for pieces of construction paper and tubes of glue, focused on creating paper lanterns and wall banners. There did not appear to be discontent among the youngsters who may not have realized they were also learning while playing. There was laughter and a lot of talking, and sharing of the supplies provided by organizers.

“We show them pieces of our culture this way,” Mariam said. “We are spreading love and kindness, and they’re just getting used to our culture. I’m glad to see them coming in and getting to know each other.”

While two large tables had been set up in the northern section of the meeting room, an elaborate display in the southern section invited children and their parents to look at lanterns, “which is an important, traditional part of Ramadan,” said Eman Beshtawii, founder of Al Hedaya Islamic Center. A tall column of blue and gold balloons also added to the celebratory spirit.

On a nearby table was a plate of dates, a formal coffee service, wall banners, and a figurine of Mesaharaty, a person whose job is to awaken Muslim sleepers on Ramadan, often with a drum or flute, according to Beshtawii.

“Sometimes he comes as early as 4 am, but it’s nice to hear him,” she said.

=====

Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.