As someone from a majority-Muslim country, Indonesia, Ramadan has always been festive for me. From suhoor calls by a bunch of young boys at 3 a.m., to iftar-snack hunting done by both Muslims and non-Muslims, to the crackling sound of firecrackers launched by random kids after tarawih prayers, it has always felt lively. So when I came to Manchester, 7,000 miles from home, I did not expect much from Ramadan here. But to my surprise, this Ramadan in Manchester has been even better than I imagined. I knew there were many Muslims here, but I never expected the atmosphere to be this lively.

On the first day of Ramadan, after a full day of classes, I stepped into McDougall Prayer Hall near the university. That was probably the best decision I made after such a busy day. It is only a short walk from Coupland 3, and it is easily accessible for students because you only need to swipe your student ID card. Although it does not look like a traditional mosque, with no dome or typical ornament, the space is very welcoming. The hall has two parts: a sister prayer hall and a brother prayer hall. It is clean and well equipped, with a dedicated wudhu area separate from the toilet, good shoe racks, bookshelves inside the prayer room, and a kitchen and living room separate from the prayer space. It is also convenient to grab a drink without leaving the prayer hall and risking missing congregational prayer. The mosque keepers are volunteer students from Manchester Islamic Society (ISOC), and they are very kind.

The best part, however, was the free iftar meal provided for everyone. The meal brought together dishes from different Muslim countries. We began with three Medjool dates from Yemen and water to break the fast, then prayed Maghrib together before the main dish was served: Pakistani chicken biryani with salad. There, I met a new friend from Uzbekistan, some Indonesian friends I already knew, and several Pakistani and Malaysian students. We ate together and talked about how much we missed home, since for most of us this was our first Ramadan away from our families. Some people also brought homemade food to share because they missed the taste of home. After all that food, I was already quite full, so I decided to read the Quran while waiting for Isha prayer. I was so focused that I did not realize they were serving cake and rose tea for dessert. That was a lovely surprise.

In the following days, I found myself mosque-hopping around the city. During the month, I visited the Muslim Youth Foundation in the Northern Quarter, the Mawlawi Kurdish Cultural Centre in Hulme, and the British Muslim Heritage Centre. Each place had its own charm. At McDougall, for example, the weekly Wednesday Quran reflection sparked meaningful discussion and sometimes deep conversation afterward, creating a warm and friendly environment. Manchester Museum also made Ramadan here more festive as they held iftar at the museum, open for all so that people from different faiths can experience the warmth of Ramadan. My friends and I also discovered a new Ramadan habit: going to different cafés after night prayer for coffee and conversation. Some friends invited me to their homes for iftar, and we even cooked Eid dishes together the night before Eid. Eventually, the Eid congregational prayer at the British Muslim Heritage Centre wrapped up my Ramadan journey. I still remember the sound of takbir that morning, the blooming cherry blossoms in front of the iconic tower, and the sacred feeling of greeting friends and saying Eid Mubarak!

Written by Pradipta, a current postgraduate student in SEED.

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