Venezuelans of Arab descent and expatriates from Islamic countries practice many of the social and religious rituals of Ramadan in mosques and in their homes.
Along with Brazil, Venezuela is a major center of gravity for Arab and Muslim expatriates, and for Venezuelans of Arab descent.
According to estimates, there are regarding 800,000 Venezuelans of Arab descent, most of whom are from Lebanon, Syria and Palestine.
And regarding the atmosphere in the month of Ramadan, the head of the Islamic Assembly on Margarita Island, which constitutes one of the largest Arab and Islamic gatherings, Qassem Tajin, told Sky News Arabia that the holy month witnesses a distinctive atmosphere, and Ramadan nights are well revived.
For his part, Mustafa Al-Saeed, a Venezuelan researcher of Palestinian origin residing in the capital, Caracas, told Sky News Arabia: “It is not easy to perform the obligatory fast in this country, due to the different customs and traditions.”
Al-Saeed added, “Few of the people of this country understand the meaning of fasting, but the good thing is that they appreciate and respect it a lot, and they show interest in it and are curious to know more.”
“Venezuelanes wonder how we can endure hunger and thirst for a whole day,” he added.
Decorations in homes and worship in mosques
The mosques of Venezuela are crowded with Arabs and Muslims during the month of Ramadan, and most of them attend the largest mosque in the capital, Caracas.
Obeida, a Lebanese businessman who used to live in Venezuela, pointed out that the halls of mosques are transformed into areas for collective breakfast, and aid is distributed to needy families, and Laylat al-Qadr is revived, and banquets and suhoor continue until the dawn call.
With regard to the social atmosphere in Ramadan, Nadine al-Atrash, a resident of the capital, Caracas, told Sky News Arabia: “We fast 13 and a half hours this year. The month of Ramadan has its social rituals, such as issuing invitations to the iftar tables.”
According to al-Atrash, homes in Venezuela are decorated during Ramadan with decorations, and visits are exchanged between members of the Lebanese and Arab community, and the meeting also takes place to commemorate the Night of Power.
The Syrian youth, Omran, who arrived in the country a decade ago, considers Ramadan in Venezuela similar in terms of its atmosphere to those in Arab and Islamic countries, explaining that “the meeting in the mosque is an opportunity to get to know each other and exchange conversations between expatriates from Arab and Islamic countries.”
