A global celebration of one of Islam’s most iconic garments has been so successful that the Berkeley Institute hopes to make next year’s event more public.

The Berkeley Institute commemorated World Hijab Day with members of Bermuda’s Muslim community joining students at the school to demonstrate the wearing of the traditional head covering.

It coincided with the traditional Muslim call to prayer, led by Berkeley student Munir Abdul-Jabbar – and recitations from the Koran delivered by Sister Clara Muhammad.

Ayesha Edgecombe, a member of the Muslim community, said the second annual observance at the school had proved so popular that they planned to bring the next commemoration into Hamilton.

“This time we had the most successful,” she said. “The children received it very well. Many of the students came to have their heads wrapped, and we let them keep them. Some took a hijab for their friends.

“The hijab is a covering or veil – in the Koran it says, ‘O believing woman, cover your head and draw your veil across your bosom’.”

The garment’s name is derived from the Arabic word “to veil”.