Several members of Muslim nonprofits and organizations around South Jersey came together to plan the second annual South Jersey Muslim Heritage Month Festival last month.
The second annual South Jersey Muslim Heritage Month Festival organized by the Muslim Heritage Month Coalition of New Jersey was just one of several events across the region that celebrated the meaning of January.
Held at Eden Gardens Banquet in Pennsauken, the festival saw thousands of people treated to an international bazaar, global cuisine, cultural performances and more.
“It was such an incredible experience having the community come out, whether they were Muslim or non-Muslim, to support the Muslim community, which was extremely heartwarming,” said festival co-organizer Anam Raja.
“Whether you’ve been in this country for generations or you’ve been in this country for just a few years, the roots of Muslims in this country go deep,” noted festival co-organizer Asma Kasuba. “As Muslims, we consider ourselves to be part of one family … Whether it’s Muslim or European Muslim or Middle Eastern … it’s all part of our shared history, and that’s what we really wanted to emphasize.”
Gov. Phil Murphy signed a proclamation designating January as Muslim Heritage Month in 2023. Townships across New Jersey that have done so include Moorestown, Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Evesham, Mount Laurel, Haddonfield and Pennsauken. The state has one of the highest percentages of Muslim residents in the country, and according to the website for the Heritage Month Coalition, Murphy emphasized that the designation is a recognition of the rich histories, cultures and principles of Muslim Americans, highlighting their roles in sectors such as patriotism, philanthropy, advocacy, civic engagement and culture.
“You may or may not already know that you know a Muslim person and that you’re working with them and eating with them, and some of the myths and propaganda that is sometimes more media driven isn’t true,” said festival co-organizer Aysha Hasan. “Sometimes that’s more of a political aspect in nature than it is a faith-based or heritage background of commentary, and so we want to show that we’ve been here since Christopher Columbus’s age …
“There’s so much that we have contributed, but a lot of people don’t know because it’s been overshadowed by other things,” she added. “We want everyone to know that we will continue to have a positive contribution to society as we have had in the past.”
The festival saw thousands of people treated to an international bazaar featuring global cuisine, cultural performances, jewelry and garments.
Additional statewide Muslim Heritage Month events included the Central Jersey Muslim Heritage Month Festival in Edison, the Muslim Heritage Month Celebration open house in Newark and the Muslim Heritage Month Committee of New Jersey’s cultural expo in Teaneck, all events that featured vendors, bazaars, art exhibitions and more.
The second annual South Jersey Muslim Heritage Month Festival featured cuisine from all different parts of the world, jewelry, garments, Ramadan decorations, books, children’s accessories and custom-made pieces. There were also prayers, performances, a Tanoura dance and children’s programs. The festival was an event that had help from lots of hands, including youth.
“This event is building for our new generation,” explained festival co-organizer Tasama Soltan. “If you could see how many young volunteers there were … they’re learning how they can create these events, how they can work together, not only with the Muslim community, they can work with other communities …
“They are proud of themselves,” Soltan added. “They are in … We’re trying to help them to get more involved and look forward to a better future together.”
Other festival co-organizers include Sameen Butt, Sarah Bernardo, Shehla Hasan, Sofia Basar, Sonia Uppal, Sumaiyya Asim, Quadsia Niaz, Anuum Baig, Aliaa Moktar, Aya Salem, Lena Sidiqqi, Maiada Ramadan and Mahreen Syed. All the organizers thanked leadership at the local and state levels for their support in attending the event.
The Muslim Heritage Month Coalition aims to inspire a legacy of unity, cultural exchange and appreciation that transcends boundaries and promotes a shared sense of belonging among all New Jersey residents. Several of the co-organizers are from different Muslim organizations, including the Moorestown Muslims, the Mount Laurel Muslim Association and Marlton Muslim Families, among others, and some didn’t know each other before planning the festival.
“We wanted everybody to be a part of it, so we could also advocate for our own townships, we could support local initiatives and Muslim-owned businesses, and just simply learn and share knowledge with everybody,” Bernardo said of the festival.
“I think that was, for me, one of the things that really hit it off and I was happy to be a part of it.”
If you’re interested in donating to future Muslim Heritage Month events, visit www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-muslim-heritage-month.
