JOHOR BARU: Despite being far from home, international students are cherishing the holy month of Ramadan by embracing local cultural experiences.
From exploring Ramadan bazaars to sampling an assortment of food, these students find the season both unique and meaningful.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) student Mashfiq Mahmud, who is from Bangladesh, said he misses spending time with his family, but his experience in Malaysia is rewarding and, in many ways, quite familiar.
“This is my fourth year here, but this time it is a bit different, as the fasting period falls during the semester break. Since both countries are from the Asian region, there are many similarities, yet each has its own unique culture.”
Mashfiq, 23, found it particularly striking how people from all economic backgrounds come together to enjoy the free meals offered by mosques.
“In Malaysia, mosques give free food every Ramadan, unlike in Bangladesh. At first, I thought they arranged such meals only for poor or underprivileged people, but I noticed that people from all walks of life come to the mosque to break fast together,” said the electrical engineering student.
He also finds the Ramadan bazaars equally fascinating.
“In Bangladesh, we have bazaars, but we don’t have anything dedicated solely to Ramadan. I got to know about Ramadan bazaars from my friends back in 2023, and since then, I have made visits every year.”
Another UTM student, Hajar Hashim, 23, from Egypt, said she enjoys visiting the bazaars as they offer a lively atmosphere with a variety of food.
“You can get all kinds of food there, from main courses to drinks and desserts. I really enjoy the lively mood of people coming together at the bazaars.”
The electrical and mechatronic engineering student loves cooking for her friends from other countries, too.
“We normally break our fast together, sharing meals that we either cook ourselves or pack from outside.
“I enjoy that, as I also get to try all kinds of different dishes from my friends’ home countries.”
She added that the one thing she misses about Ramadan back in Egypt are the colourful lights decorating the streets.
“Back home, you can see festive decorations everywhere throughout the month of Ramadan. You will know Ramadan has arrived just by looking at the streets and shops, as they are filled with lights.”
