Spreading the love: Porch decorations in Scranton proclaim a happy, blessed Ramadan

Jim Lockwood, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
Updated ·2 min read
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Apr. 21—SCRANTON — For the past month, Tania Ahmed's colorful porch highlighted Ramadan, Islam's holiest month.

As she had done for the past two Ramadans, Ahmed again adorned the porch at her Meade Avenue home with banners, bunting, ribbons, posters and signs. She also decorated her home's interior.

The decorations stand out on her street of 10 houses overlooking the fields of the Weston Field House park. Neighbors and passersby take notice of the display — that's the point of it, she said.

"People wonder, 'What is it? Why is it?,' and that's why I did it," she said. "Imagine how many people coming (to the Weston Field House park) and they look at my house and wonder what is going on. A lot of people still don't know."

On Friday, Ahmed and other Muslims in the Scranton area marked the conclusion of the monthlong dawn-to-dusk fasting of Ramadan with celebrations called Eid al-Fitr.

The Islamic Center of Scranton celebrated Eid al-Fitr at the center's mosque on West Pass Avenue in Scranton and at the Wyoming Valley Sports Dome in Plains Twp.

Throughout Ramadan, Muslims fast daily from sunrise to sunset and break their fasts each night with meals known as iftars. The Islamic Center of Scranton held community iftars every Friday night during Ramadan that welcomed both Muslims and non-Muslims.

The ninth month on the Islamic calendar, Ramadan and its fasting provides an opportunity for spiritual rejuvenation by reflecting on the Holy Quran and one's relationship with God, asking for forgiveness and preparing for another year.

"In Ramadan, you're sacrificing your hunger, you're sacrificing your food for the sake of God," said Salma Ahmed, who is Tania's daughter from Kansas visiting her mother in Scranton for Eid al-Fitr.

For the March 24 start of Ramadan, a large crowd gathered at the Islamic Center of Scranton for an iftar meal. Ahmed hosted that meal, cooking lamb, chicken and rice to feed as many as 300 people.

Born in Pakistan, Tania Ahmed was a teenager when she moved to New York. In 2008, she moved to Scranton.

She loves her home and neighborhood and delights in cooking sumptious feasts of her native culinary dishes. She also loves introducing non-Muslim visitors to food and flavors that are new to their palates.

It's the third time she has decorated her front porch for Ramadan. She started it as an outward expression of positivity during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"So I came up with the idea, 'Let's not be negative all of the time.' I feel like I'm doing something for the sake of the world and for myself," Tania Ahmed said. "My main goal is to spread the love."

She plans to leave the decorations up for another two weeks.

Contact the writer:

jlockwood@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5185;

@jlockwoodTT on Twitter.