Open Door Day at the Kaunas Mosque

Kaunas, Lithuania: 14 July 2024

Every year on July 15th, the Kaunas Muslim religious community commemorates an important historical event – the opening of the brick mosque in Kaunas. It was on July 15, 1933, that the first religious ceremonies took place in this building, coinciding with the anniversary of the Battle of Žalgiris. To promote interreligious and intercultural awareness in Lithuania and nurture the priorities of this community, NGO “Education and Heritage” organized an Open Door Day at the Kaunas Mosque on July 14th. During the event, there was an opportunity to interact openly with the Muslim community and discover their unity and cultural diversity.

Various activities took place during that event, allowing participants to explore Muslim culture. Poetry from multiple countries and nations was read with a Lithuanian translation. This time, the community wanted to showcase its rich culture through poetry. Indeed, poetry holds a special place in Muslim culture, and the event emphasized the importance of this art form in a historical context. In addition, live performances of religious chants in Arabic (nasheed) brought a special spiritual warmth and sense of community to the event. Participants had the opportunity to observe traditional clothing or certain elements of cultures up close and engage in communal prayer, once again allowing the community to highlight its cultural diversity and unity.

To dispel stereotypes about Muslims and their faith that are spreading in Lithuania, all participants had the opportunity to directly ask any questions about Islam and receive answers from reliable individuals who practice this religion in their daily lives. The answers were provided in Lithuanian, Russian, and English languages.

One of the main highlights of the event, which unites the community and all ethnicities, was the traditional process of making and tasting Tatar pilaf. The Muslim community gifted this pilaf to all participants, while the organizers took care of the presentation and storytelling.

It is generally believed that women are forbidden from attending mosques in the Islamic religion. To dispel this stereotype, the community invited women to participate and each woman who attended received a gift of a drawing with henna paint on her hand. Additionally, women could freely engage in lively discussions about traditions, women’s rights and Islamic rituals. These efforts aimed to challenge and change the false perception of women’s participation in mosques and community activities.

There were 74 registered individuals (34 women, 20 men, and 20 children) who participated in the event, got acquainted with the Muslim community, enjoyed delicious food, tasted the traditional Tatar pie “Šimtalapis,” and actively engaged in community life. It was a special day full of communication, cultural exchange and promotion of understanding.