Andrea Agola
Ramadan @ Dartmouth: A Student's POV
As the holy month of Ramadan was ending last week, I interviewed my friend Yasmine Kanaan '26 about her experience practicing at Dartmouth, away from home for the first time. On Thursday April 20th, she invited me to a Chand Raat event (a South Asian celebration on the night before Eid Al-Fitr). We were able to talk over samosas as we had our mehndi/henna done! The event was organized by Al-Nur, Dartmouth's Muslim Student Association. They organize various activities around campus like the Ramadan Opening Ceremony which all were welcome to and featured the call to prayer (adhan), Qur'anic recitation, student speeches + testimonials, and dinner + gift boxes!
What were you most looking for in your Ramadan experience at Dartmouth?
Yasmine: "I was afraid there wasn't going to be a community. But there's such a great one. You're still a student but I definitely felt that the college acknowledged us. There was a dinner held at the dean's house. There was actually a sponsored dinner every night by either the Interfaith Center, different house communities or other groups."
Were there other ways you felt like Dartmouth acknowledged Muslim students?
Yasmine: "Oh yes! We had the Ramadan Foco late night swipe: For whatever you get, DDS (Dartmouth Dining Services) covers the cost if it's over the $5.25 swipe. There was also always 24/7 food access at the Interfaith center and DDS also provides pre-packaged halal meals."
Just from my time at this event, I've felt some of the community you've spoken about. One of the girls just came around asking if others want to go pray together tomorrow morning. Does this happen often?
Yasmine: "Yeah, it's so nice! Within my first few days here in the fall, one of the girls basically took me under her wing and told me that if I need anything at all, she's always here for me. That was so sweet of her and it immediately made me feel more comfortable."
At the Chand Raat, I asked an Al-Nur board member about her experience:
Amina Zoklat '23: "It's really nice to have a community, especially a women's community. Ramadan is very community based where you'd usually be with all of your family. So it's nice to still do henna the night before Eid. After the morning Eid prayer there will be brunch and a gala over the weekend."
At the Chand Raat, there were some students who volunteered as henna artists and there was also the option for people to do their own henna using any of the beautiful stencils provided. A Guarini Graduate School Student did my henna. I'm so happy that Yasmine invited me to the event. It was great to learn more about the Muslim student experience here at Dartmouth. The festivities have not ended yet; for the upcoming Saturday, Al-Nur has organized a trip to Six Flags to continue celebrating the Eid celebration!
Posts You Might Like
Entering a new environment miles away from home, knowing little to no people at first, can feel daunting. However, Dartmouth's support systems, particularly through the First Generation Office (FGO), have been nothing short of incredible.
Exam at 8am, presentation on zoom, and paper due by noon!
Dartmouth has over 84,000 alumni all over the world, and I wanted to highlight a few notable alumni!
A key part of my Dartmouth experience so far has been my time on Sheba, one of many dance groups on campus! Read on to learn more about dance on campus!
Hear all about the various spots to eat on Dartmouth's campus!
Dorm kitchens might be my new favorite social activity!
After a long, restful Winter break, I'm back in Hanover! The weather is cold, and the Green isn't very green anymore, here's how it all feels.
Dartmouth's Winter Carnival is a beloved tradition that brings the community together to celebrate winter with a wide range of fun activities, from thrilling ski races to unique events like the Polar Plunge and ice sculpture carving.