President Runte handed out cookies to mark the end of Ramadan (Photo: Kevin Gurr)
During Ramadan, a month of prayer and fasting for Muslims, more than 300 students gathered on campus every night to break their fast together.
Observers refrained from eating between sunrise and sunset from Aug. 22 to Sept. 20. On some days, this period lasted more than 13 hours.
Families who own restaurants donated food while volunteers for the Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) served the students their first meal of the day, called iftar, just after sunset.
The Muslim holiday also found support from Carleton faculty. Some professors contributed food, while others partook in the fasting.
In celebration of the end of Ramadan, Carleton president Roseann Runte distributed homemade cookies on Sept. 23 in the Unicentre Galleria.
“When I was passing [the cookies] out to the students [during frosh week], some students said they could not take one because they were fasting,” Runte explained.
“I thought it might be nice to offer them one once their fast ended.”
“Carleton is taking positive steps towards recognizing and supporting the needs and activities of the Muslim Students’ Association,” said Najeeb Siddique, president of the MSA.
Siddique extended his gratitude “to all the MSA [executives], volunteers and members for an outstanding job in making every night a success.”
With the end of Ramadan, students and faculty look forward to Eid ul-Fitr, a holiday that symbolizes the end of the fasting month. This year, students celebrated the yearly Eid Festival at Lansdowne Park.
The MSA is also currently planning festivities of its own. Ryan Fournier, the head of Islamic programming and prayer services at the MSA, announced an Eid comedy night to take place on the weekend of Sept. 25.
Additionally, Siddique mentioned a “special trip to the IMAX theatre [at the Museum of Civilization] followed by a banquet at Mosaic Buffet in downtown Ottawa.”
“It’s all good fun,” Fournier added. “It’s a celebration.”