Stephanie Kwok is the overall winner of the Harbinger Prize 2025. This is her winning entry.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. During this period, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from food and drink. The fast is broken each day with a meal called iftar, which is often shared with family and friends.

The name itself is directly translated from the Arabic word for ‘scorching heat’, and is believed to be rooted in the time when Ramadan was associated with the intense heat of summer in pre-Islamic Arabia. It has also come to signify the ‘burning away’ of sins through fasting and purification.

Ramadan is also a sanctuary for the millions of Muslims worldwide who preserve their religion while living away from their homeland. In Hong Kong, where Muslims make up a mere 4% of the population, Muslims rely on Ramadan to connect with their faith and foster relationships with others.

I was born and raised in Hong Kong – a city often celebrated for its multiculturalism– but I found that high school offered limited opportunities for cultural exposure. The best way for me to experience cultural diversity at its root was through religion.

Ramadan and cultural differences

Mariam explains that fasting during Ramadan is much more common in Muslim-majority countries, as there are more practicing Muslims. When fasting is a mandatory practice for everyone around you, it is much easier to uphold those standards yourself.

According to her experiences, celebrating religious holidays in predominantly Muslim countries is very different to celebrating it here, in Hong Kong. In countries where Islam is the predominant faith, everyday life undergoes a transformation. The lively noise of traffic and the rush of people dissipate, leaving the impression that life itself had slowed down.

Celebrating with Mariam

This year, Mariam kindly invited me to spend Eid Al Fitr – the celebration of the final day of fasting – with her and her family.

As someone whose family holiday celebrations have gone no further than a plastic Christmas tree, it was a true culture shock to see a room glow with laughter as familiar faces were reunited after weeks or even months apart.

The table was beautifully set with colourful tablecloths and traditional decorations, and the air was filled with delicious aromas that beckoned everyone to the dining area. The menu featured a mouthwatering array of dishes, including fragrant biryani, grilled kebabs, crispy samosas and rich lentil curry. For dessert, there were succulent sweet treats I would never normally have the opportunity to try, from baklava and rice pudding to chocolate dates.

Mariam’s family encountered significant challenges when moving to different countries where they grappled with language barriers and cultural disorientation. “Every single one of my kids came home crying,” she recalls, speaking about her children’s first day of school in Colombia. “It was heartbreaking to see as a mother because they are all bright children who had always excelled, and suddenly they felt lost.”

The absence of a familiar Muslim community only deepened their sense of isolation. The celebration of Ramadan in Hong Kong is an ode to just how much the preservation of culture and tradition is required in a foreign land.

Even if you are not of the Muslim faith, Ramadan at its core stems from the idea of charity and gratefulness, like many other religions. Practicing gratitude, engaging in charitable acts and fostering a sense of awareness about the needs of others has the ability to enrich our lives and enhance our connections with those around us regardless of religion.

In a city as dynamic as Hong Kong, where rapid development can sometimes lead to feelings of disconnection, these small cultural touchstones are needed to maintain identity and heritage.

For Mariam, the idea of home has evolved far beyond geography. It is no longer defined by borders or permanence, but by the people she cherishes, the traditions she inherits, and the acts of service that anchor her to every new place she inhabits. Despite differences in culture, religion or custom, each of us have a duty to celebrate and engage in the very different worlds we see around us.

Now, with the clarity of hindsight, Mariam looks back at the challenges of cultural disorientation that plagued her and her children, saying: “You grow where you’re planted, and you try and bloom.”