Mohamed Farghaly
Locals and visitors immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere of Astoria’s Ramadan Night Market, embracing cultural exchange and unity.
MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
Steinway Street was bustling into the early hours of Tuesday morning as Astoria’s Little Egypt celebrated a first-of-its-kind night market in honor of Ramadan. Several blocks in Astoria were closed for the inaugural Ramadan Night Market on April 3, an event that brought together diverse communities to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
The event, centered around food and cultural exchange, took place on Steinway Street between 25th and 28th Avenue starting at 9 p.m. and concluded at 1 a.m., drawing locals and visitors alike to savor the flavors of halal cuisine.
Mohamed Farghaly
The spirit of giving shines bright as attendees support Malikah’s mission of empowerment and community resilience through donations at the night market.
Organized by Malikah, a grassroots organization based in Astoria dedicated to combating gender-based violence and hate crimes through self-defense training and community programming, the night market aimed to empower women while fostering unity within the neighborhood.
“We wanted to create an inclusive space where people could come together, celebrate the diversity of our community, and support a worthy cause,” said Mikail Aljawab, a volunteer with Malikah.
With its four pillars focused on healing, self-defense, organizing, and financial literacy, Malikah sought to leverage the event as a fundraiser to sustain its efforts in supporting women and organizing programs in Queens.
“The event is pretty much just connecting people in the community,” Aljawab said. “These are the last few days of the holy month of Ramadan and we’re trying to unite the community and it’s for a good cause. We’re doing a lot of donations. you could try different foods and you can look at different clothes.”
Mohamed Farghaly
Volunteers from Malikah, a grassroots organization dedicated to empowering women, work tirelessly to ensure the success of Astoria’s first Ramadan Night Market.
Throughout the month of Ramadan, Malikah had been actively engaged in community outreach, distributing free Iftar takeout meals outside its Steinway Street center in collaboration with City Comptroller Brad Lander and Islamic Relief USA. As part of the “Iftar on the Go” initiative, which aimed to provide 8,500 meals across the five boroughs.
As the night market came to a close, it left behind a sense of camaraderie and solidarity among those who gathered to celebrate the spirit of Ramadan and support Malikah’s mission of empowerment and community resilience.
Mohamed Farghaly
The spirit of giving shines bright as attendees support Malikah’s mission of empowerment and community resilience through donations at the night market.
