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London's West End lit up ahead of Ramadan

The moment London's Ramadan lights are switched on

Piccadilly Circus has been lit up as part of celebrations for this year's Ramadan.

For the third year running, Ramadan Lights have been installed in central London.

Organised by the Aziz Foundation, the lights were switched on by the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, on Wednesday evening.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla also helped to mark the upcoming Muslim holy month by helping to pack food donation boxes at a restaurant in Soho.

Festive lighting hung in central London with the wording Happy Ramadan.
The lighting features lots of stars and shapes alongside wider lighting installations.
Happy Ramadan lights are lit up in the West End
The light switch on took place on Coventry Street in Piccadilly Circus

When is Ramadan?

Ramadan is set to begin on Friday evening and will go on until 30 March.

Many Muslims will spend a period of 30 days abstaining from food and drink – including water – during daylight hours, as a means of celebrating and reflecting on their faith.

After sunset, the fast-breaking meal iftar is taken.

Dates are eaten for iftar as it is said the Prophet Muhammad broke his fast with the fruit.

PA Media King Charles standing by another man and two women, in conversation. He is wearing a navy suit and blue tie. PA Media
Along with Queen Camilla, King Charles helped out at a restaurant in central London

The King and Queen met a group of Muslim women, including professional rugby player Zainab Alema and author Hajera Memon, at Darjeeling Express, a restaurant in Kingly Court in Soho on Wednesday.

The Queen also greeted a mother and two of her daughters who are being supported by Doorstep, a charity which helps families by providing goods and services to make their lives more comfortable as they await permanent housing.

She then helped staff in the all-female kitchen team to pack biryani boxes to donate to Doorstep before helping, along with King Charles, to pack dates into small bags to be sent to hospitals during Ramadan.

The King then went to meet chef Imad Alarnab at his restaurant Imad's Syrian Kitchen.

Mr Alarnab, a Syrian chef, entrepreneur and refugee who ran restaurants in Damascus before they were destroyed in the war, arrived in London in 2015.

He opened the restaurant early in 2020, and on Wednesday as well as the King, he hosted British Syrians including film-makers, doctors and charity workers.

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