Ramadan 2025 kicked off at Sydney’s Observatory Hill with a Powerhouse Museum Ramadan program on March 1 in collaboration with Islamic Sciences and Research Academy, and multidisciplinary artist Shireen Taweel. The event featured  inspiring and uplifting speeches by Professor Mehmet Ozalp and Shireen Taweel along with performances by the Three Rivers Ensemble and Harley Goodman bringing a musical element to the event.

”What makes Ramadan unique is its connection, its spiritual connection to our tradition to our loved ones living and those who passed away . I remember my grandparents having Iftar breaking my fasts with them, it definitely brings that but it also brings me to my community here. It means we knock on our neighbours doors give them some chocolate from time to time you know drop in with some dates. So yeah, it’s a time to come together care for one another and really be a community,” Derek Hallawa, a member of the Three Rivers Ensemble, highlighted.

This year’s Ramadan is extra special for Hallawa as his sister is visiting from Vienna and it’s the first Ramadan for him that he has a family member with him in Sydney. Hallawa highlighted that the band he is a part of has a unique music style with traditional but blended into a western repertoire style of music. “It’s quite unique and special because we come from different parts of the world. Actually from four different continents and to have that soulful Sufi music in there but also translated into a western setup here in Australia I believe it makes it unique,” Hallawa pointed out.  

Hallawa’s roots trace back to Palestine, Syria and Turkey but he was born and raised in Jordan. “My dad was born in Palestine a place I belong too. I also have family in Syria and Turkey. I grew up in Jordan in the Middle East and I’ve been here for 12 years,” Hallawa said.

Furthermore spirituality was on full show with Quran recitations, Islamic poems and congregational Maghrib and Isha prayers for attendees. There was also a chance to view the crescent moon through a telescope. For many Muslims Ramadan is a month for self-reflection, seeking God’s pleasure and deepening their spiritual connection.

Another key person who was at the event included Sydney based artist Shireen Taweel. Shireen highlighted she previously had a residency at Sydney Observatory back in 2022 where she investigated the celestial navigation collection and bridged the collection of the Powerhouse and Sydney Observatory with the Arabic and Islamic sciences. “Since that relationship in 2022 I’ve had some great conversations to the powerhouse they’d invited me to come in and bring kind of my artistic and spiritual sensibility to a special night for the community,” Taweel pointed out.

Shireen said she has curated a collection of objects from the Powerhouse Museum and the observatory for display which speak to the Islamic world of art and science and spirit. Her work isn’t however influenced by Ramadan but rather by Islamic practice and more focused on astronomy. “But then of course astronomy is connected to the lunar calender, which is very much connected to Islamic calendar and our commitments to Ramadan, which is why tonight we’re viewing the crescent moon. But a lot of my work is engaged with the notion of the sacred,” Taweel said.

Taweel is from the Lebanese community diaspora and works with copper and develops sculptures and installations that hold space for people to gather and said the event bridges the gap of multiculturalism and makes people closer. “I think it brings people from all walks of life together which is really special to share our cultures together and also celebrate something very sacred to us, the start of Ramadan and people across the arts, across faiths across community all come together tonight and it’s really lovely,” Taweel expressed.

She also said the event should be back next year and highlighted that its been successful and people have really enjoyed themselves and connected. “Coming to the observatory is really important and special for allowing a sense of welcome to also include the community,” said Taweel. Additionally the event featured complimentary food by Stripped Gaza Street Food.