Ramadan Lights return to London’s Coventry Street for its fourth year in a row
More than 30,000 LED bulbs now light up Coventry Street as London’s Ramadan Lights returned to the West End on Friday – the first display of its kind in Western Europe. The installation will shine “Happy Ramadan” until 18 March, before changing to “Happy Eid” until 24 March.Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan joined crowds for the switch-on, calling on Londoners of all faiths – and none – to come together during the holy month. He described the city as “the antidote to hatred” and urged people to open their fasts with friends from different backgrounds.
Sir Sadiq Khan joined Rahima Aziz BEM, Trustee of The Aziz Foundation to officially turn on the lights display. He said: “I am really pleased that year after year, here in the heart of our city, we celebrate all the great festivals from around the world that are celebrated in London. We celebrate Christmas, we celebrate Easter, we celebrate Hanukkah, we celebrate Diwali, we celebrate Vaisakhi, and of course we celebrate Eid.”
Khan urged people from all faiths and those who don’t follow any religion to come together during this month of Ramadan. He told crowds: “There are those around the world, there are those in Europe, there are those in this country and this city who are sowing the seeds of division, sowing the seeds of hatred and sowing the seeds of fear. One of the jobs we have to do during this month of Ramadan, whether you’re a Muslim, or a non-Muslim, is show that London is the antidote of that hatred, we are the antithesis for all they believe in.
“During this month, please if you’re a Muslim, open your fast with a non-Muslim. If you’re a non-Muslim, ask one of your Muslim friends, why are you so miserable? And they’ll tell you because fasting is hard, maybe go along and break fast with a Muslim friend.”
He continued to say to remember those less fortunate around the world, from Sudan, Gaza and Ukraine to name a few. Khan concluded before officially counting down for the switch on: “Let’s show the best of London, let’s show the best of Britain and let’s show the best of Islam.”
Rahima Aziz spoke to the public and said, “we share these streets, we share this city, London is a city for everyone, and Ramadan is for everyone to enjoy.”
After the lights officially switched on The Mayor shouted out, “From London to the world, Ramadan Kareem,” as a symbolic message for those observing Ramadan.
Millions of people each year are able to view the lights display and experience the spirit of Ramadan in one of London’s busiest districts. The Aziz Foundation organises and fully funds the installation, which started in 2023 as the first lights display in Western Europe. Coventry Street is transformed into a luminous installation of more than 30,000 energy-efficient LED bulbs in the West End.
The campaign’s message this year is, “Share The Light” which highlights the universal values at the centre of the programme being generosity, hope and human connection.
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