HISTORIC SHOW OF FAITH AT RAMADAN NIGHTS

As the holy month of Ramadan comes to a close, history has been made on the streets of
Lakemba.
Thousands of people from the Muslim community gathered on Lakemba’s Haldon Street
overnight to join in Tarawih (prayers) and publicly share their faith.
Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour said not only was this a first for our City, but for the
entire country, bringing together Muslims and non-Muslims to embrace the true meaning of
Ramadan.
“It was a beautiful show of faith and an incredible display of what Ramadan is all about,” Mayor
Asfour said.
Record-breaking numbers of people from across Australia have flocked to Lakemba throughout
the holy month to experience the rich food, culture and traditions on offer at Ramadan Nights.
More than 1.3 million visitors have joined in the celebrations to break their fast and experience
the foods on offer, surpassing last year’s record attendance of 1.2 million people.
Mayor Asfour said he is thrilled to see so many people come with a positive attitude and
embrace Ramadan Nights.
“We’ve seen people travel from across the state, and even across the country to join in on the
cultural celebration and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Yassir Halli from Melbourne said he had to pop into Ramadan Nights while on his Sydney stay
to “see what all the hype is about”.
“It really lives up to its hype!” Halli said.
“10/10 the best knafeh I’ve ever had! I’ll definitely be coming back and bringing my family
along.”
A Wiley Park local, Aladdin Sammak is a regular festival goer and is pleased to see so many
different people come together and experience his culture.
“This shows the true side of the hospitality and what Ramadan is all about,” Sammak said.
“It’s about bringing people together, bringing families closer together and enjoying each other’s
company.”