Millions of Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr today (13/05) as the month of Ramadan comes to an end.
Ramadan is observed with a period of fasting – where people abstain from eating and drinking between dawn and sunset.
The fasting period is meant to put a focus on prayer, purification and charitable acts.
The celebration of Eid (meaning fast or festival) marks the end of Ramadan and the start of Shawwal (10th month on the Islamic Calendar).
It begins at the first sighting of the crescent moon, announced by local religious authorities.
This year it begun on Wednesday evening (12th) and ends on Thursday evening (13th) in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the UK.
This is celebrated by spending time with family, feasting and praying.
There are two festivals of Eid celebrated each year in the Islamic Calendar - Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Today Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr, known as the festival of breaking the fast.
The second Eid is known as the festival of sacrifice and is marked 2 months later when many Muslims perform the Hajj pilgrimage. This usually lasts around three days.
Eid Mubarak!
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