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Jumaddin celebrated Eid alone 10 years ago. Now he makes sure it doesn't happen to others
Many Nepali Muslims in Australia, at one time, had to observe Islam's holy month on their own soon after arriving. But with the growth of the community, and efforts by its leaders, the experiences of Ramadan and Eid have changed for many.
Published 19 April 2023 8:32am
Updated 21 April 2023 1:40pm
By Sameer Ghimire
Presented by Abhas Parajuli
Source: SBS
Image: Saifullah (second from right) and his friends at the Auburn Mosque in Sydney. (Photo: Supplied)
For Mohammed Jumaddin Hawari, Ramadan in 2013 was a memorable one.
He had just moved to Australia to further his studies, at Eid - the day marking the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan - was approaching.
Having just arrived in a new country, he had not formed connections with others who shared his religious beliefs, and he marked the day on his own.
Bringing home to where you live
Now, as the vice president of the Association of Nepal Terai in Australia (ANTA), Mr Hawari says he's determined that newcomers from Nepal, especially those from the Muslim faith, will not have to celebrate alone as he did a decade ago.
Mr Hawari and his friends have created a chat group to organise festivities around Ramadan and Eid. The group sits on the Viber app which is similar to WhatsApp and is favoured by Nepali people for messaging.
I could not make the right contacts and connections with only a week to go. Eid of that year came and went without letting me immerse in any celebrations.Mohammed Jumaddin Hawari
He says he takes the ANTA leadership role "very seriously" and ensures no one is left out of Eid celebrations.
“Muslims from Nepal are fewer in numbers here,” Mr Hawari told SBS Nepali.
Mr Hawari (first from the left) and his family enjoy Iftar. (Photo: Supplied)
Mr Hawari and his family recently held an Iftar party at their place.
“The big feast that one had with wider family and sharing stories were highlights of this festival back home.
"And we want to replicate it here."
Interfaith family and national identity
Mohammed Irfan Ali Shekh (left) with one of his cousins and Shekh's parents at the Rooty Hill Mosque in Sydney. (Photo: Supplied)
“I still continue to do that now,” says Mr Shekh, who is married to a Hindu woman.
Now based in Sydney, Mr Shekh says he was brought up to respect all religions, as he believes there is only one God.
“My wife and I celebrate each other's festivals every year. This is no different than what I used to do as a kid, celebrating major Hindu festivals,” he says.
It also becomes tricky when other friends from Nepal have limited knowledge of Ramadan and Eid.Mohammed Jumaddin Hawari
Like many others, he says he struggled to connect with Nepali people of the Muslim faith during his early days in Australia.
He worked in Sydney’s eastern suburbs in his student life and said he felt far away from his community, which primarily resides in the southern and western suburbs.
Multicultural, multi-faith friends to the rescue
Mohammed Saifullah (fourth from the left), originally from Dhanusha in Southern Nepal, says he likes celebrating Ramadan with his friends. (Photo: Supplied)
“I know it sounds a bit strange now, but in 2008, we did not use all these social media [platforms] and Google. It was all word-of-mouth and [forming the] right connections to discover different places,” he says.
Similarly, Mohammed Saifullah, originally from Dhanusha in Southern Nepal, says he likes celebrating Ramadan with his friends.
“I've got loads of Hindu friends from back home, and I celebrate Ramadan with them too,” says Mr Saifullah, who currently resides in Parramatta.
He claims that one of the highlights of living in Sydney is savouring various cuisines at the Lakemba Night Market.
The markets have become a popular and culturally diverse event in Sydney’s southern suburbs, with multiple street food vendors.
“I have been lucky in this foreign land,” he adds, saying he appreciates the efforts of his Hindu friends from Nepal while he maintains fasting.
Most nights, they cook food for me. They respect my religion, and we only eat halal meat here in the apartment.Md Saifullah
As with Mr Hawari and Mr Shekh, but relatively new to Australia, Mr Saifullah says he also fully participates in the festivals of his friends.
“We light up the candles in Tihar and play (with) colours in Holi. Respecting each other's faiths is what religion teaches us, and it's vital for friendship,” he adds.
The importance of food during Ramadan, Eid
For Mr Hawari, who mentions that he missed the smell of sebai, a traditional South Asian vermicelli dessert cooked in milk, during his first Ramadan, the challenge for him has changed.
“It is now more about how to cook the best sebai to serve others,” he jokes.
He says he regularly holds gatherings for friends and family during the festive month.
Food plays an important part in Eid celebrations. (Photo: RODNAE Productions)
“Those tastes take us back to when we were growing up. Having a massive feast with the family was a must during this time,” Mr Hawari says.
Although families here attempt to replicate what they experienced back home, it sometimes becomes challenging for the second generation.
“I had two brothers, and my parents always ensured that we all had new costumes of the same colour and design for the Eid celebration. It was a cool bonding between siblings, connected with the same designed dress,” Mr Hawari recalls.
But now, sadly, kids want to have their own unique dresses. Maybe it’s a good thing, I am not sure.Md Jumaddin Hawari
In 2014, Mr Hawari was penalised for making an illegal U-turn on a Sydney road when he says he was rushing to get to prayers during Ramadan.
He claims he was a novice driver at that time and was trying hard to reconnect with his faith in the new city.
He now feels proud that the new arrivals do not have to suffer in silence as they can easily connect with an already expanding group of Nepali Muslims for guidance and support and to celebrate their biggest festival.
Muslims in Nepal
Muslims clean themselves before performing the Eid prayers at the Takiya Jame mosque in Kathmandu, Nepal. (Photo by Sunil Pradhan / SOPA Images/Sipa USA) . Source: SIPA USA / SOPA Images/PA/Alamy
According to Nepal’s government reports, of the country's 2.6 million population, approximately 4.4 per cent identify as Muslim.
Most Nepali Muslims live in the Terai region and form part of the social fabric in big towns like Birgunj and Nepalgunj.
Nepali Muslims are considered an integral part of Terai, of whom many also celebrate Hindu festivals such as Holi and Tihar.
- Please for all our content on Ramadan and Eid across the SBS network.
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