Ramadan contest boosts holiday spirit for Muslims in ‘Arab America’

A Ramadan lights contest, similar to Christmas, is being held in the “center of Arab America,” in the Dearborn city of Michigan, to boost holiday spirit for Muslims who are confined to their homes during the holy fasting month due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Muslims, who have been gathering in mosques every year for the evening prayer, organizing feasts to break their fast with friends, families and even strangers, are deprived of their sense of community and solidarity as they are forced to spend the holiest month in the Islamic calendar under lockdown.

However, the community in Dearborn have kick-started this new tradition that allows Muslims to enjoy Ramadan within the rules of social distancing and simultaneously boosts holiday spirit despite the epidemic.

Razi Jafri, a documentary filmmaker working for the Center for Arab American Studies at the Michigan-Dearborn University, launched the challenge with the cooperation of the Michigan Muslim Community Council, reported CNN.

Residents will share their decorated homes on social media until May 11 and the public will vote for their top 10 from each district. Judges will then announce the winner before Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan. Winners will be gifted a basket from a local restaurant as well as a certificate.

"This will help raise spirits by providing a positive, pro-social project for the community to get involved with. It's amazing because both Muslims and non-Muslims in the community are getting so excited about it. There's been so much positive energy that has come out of this already," said Jafri.

The challenge will also contribute to Jafri’s documentary project called Halal Metropolis, which is centered around Muslims’ lives in Southeast Michigan.

"This project is just the perfect blend of American and Muslim culture. American Muslims are such an important part of the fabric of American culture and this is a great expression of that," he added.