Next week, parts of Steinway Street in Astoria will be transformed into an Egyptian-style Ramadan night market. The NYC Ramadan Night Market will feature halal food, DJs, performances and kiosks by Muslim-owned small businesses.
It was created by Rana Abdelhamid, the executive director and founder of Malikah, a Queens-based anti-violence organization. Abdelhamid says it has been a childhood dream to create a night market in her community.
She notes that in the U.S., Ramadan is often celebrated in private spaces because people shy away from visualizing their identity due to fear. In contrast, in Egypt, where her family is from, Ramadan is a public affair. “It takes over the streets. There are markets, there are festivals, people eat on the street, there are these long tables, we have iftar, and it’s like a very beautiful visible event.”
Sponsored by Malikah, the first NYC Ramadan Night Market took place last year. Over 5,000 people attended, with many telling Abdelhamid, “This feels like back home.”
She says this year’s goal is to publicly express love and togetherness. “For the past year and a half, like there’s been just so much slaughter and loss and sadness and heartbreak,” Abdelhamid says. But she added that this event offers a counterbalance to that because of the joy and strong sense of togetherness people feel when attending.
And in a moment where so many community members are concerned about islamophobia, xenophobia, racism, and immigration — this is a night where people can celebrate their full selves after they break fast. “It feels like this is their street because it is like it’s the one place that we can fully claim in the midst of all this insecurity,” says Abdelhamid.
The NYC Ramadan Night Market will be held on Steinway Street between 25th and 28th Avenues on Thursday, March 13, from 7 to 11:30 p.m. Get tickets and learn more.
