From sunset on Sunday evening, the Ramadan holiday started and the municipality has for the first time decorated with Ramadan lights.
The inspiration comes from London. Where similar lights are set up to mark the start of Ramadan.
The Ramadan lighting will be lit until April 8 when the holy month of fasting ends.
City council leader Eirik Lae Solberg is positive about the lights.
– It is an important symbol that Oslo stands for community, inclusion and diversity. You are a very important part of the diversity that makes Oslo Oslo, said Solberg in his speech.
Solberg says that this is especially important when there is more polarization in society.
Several hundred had made the trip to the town hall in Oslo to take part in the ceremony where the candles were lit.
Many gathered outside the town hall when the lights were lit.
Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB
The lights were put up at the end of February and cost up to one and a half million kroner. The bill is taken by Oslo municipality.
Massom Zubair from the Islamic Council of Norway also gave a speech outside the town hall. He says this is a historic moment.
– It is with great joy and gratitude that I stand here today to mark the fact that Oslo municipality wants to mark and celebrate Ramadan together with all of us, said Zubair in his speech.
It is these candles that were lit on Sunday night.
Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB
FRP are critical
But at Fremskrittspartiet, the tone for the lights is different.
Group leader in Oslo Frp, Magnus Birkelund, says the party is opposed to Oslo municipality picking up the bill for decorating for Ramadan.
– I question the fact that if you now say you will decorate for Ramadan, you must then do it for all other religious holidays as well. That’s what Birkelund told NRK when the lights were put up.
– But won’t it be like decorating for Christmas?
– We have a Christmas street in Karl Johans gate every year, but it is not something Oslo municipality finances, he says.
Julegaten is financed by the Lund group in collaboration with Oslo municipality.
Leader of Oslo Frp, Magnus Birkelund is critical of the lights.
Photo: Bård Nafstad / NRK