Ramadan in Beirut…

Everywhere I turn in Beirut these days, I bump into whirling dervishes floating over the streets for Ramadaniyat Beirutiya–a cultural festival intended to “revive Beirut’s authentic Ramadan ambiance, while promoting the virtues of the holy month embodied in the values of brotherhood, sympathy, tolerance, solidarity, love, and peace.” This annual festival, which features art, music, dance, and food, is sponsored and organized by The Makhzoumi Foundation. This year’s theme is: “Islam, Advocacy for Peace.” A few days ago, the Indonesian Ambassador to Lebanon invited me to attend the festival on July 4th–when the Indonesian martial art pencak silat (which I studied while on a Fulbright in Java) will be showcased. If you’re in Beirut, don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience cultural traditions from around the world.