Ramadan is considered to be the holiest month for Muslims across the globe. Ramadan or Ramzan is the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Almost 2 billion Muslims across the world celebrate the holy festival where people keep fast from dawn to dusk.
Community leaders and mosques around the globe arrange for suhoor (pre-dawn meal) and iftar (meal to break the day-long fast). Across the world, Muslims fast each day for the entire month of Ramadan, abstaining from food and drink from dawn to dusk. That means around 15 hours without food, water, cigarettes or caffeine.
Across the world, Muslims fast each day for the entire month of Ramadan, abstaining from food and drink from dawn to dusk. That means around 15 hours without food, water, cigarettes or caffeine. Fasting is aimed at drawing worshippers closer to God through self-control, remembrance and humility. The challenge of fasting for many is also a chance to reset spiritually and physically, kick bad habits and purify the heart.
What is "suhoor"?
The Ramadan fast begins with a pre-dawn meal called "suhoor" to prepare hungry stomachs for the long day ahead. A typical suhoor often includes bread, vegetables, fruits, yogurt, tea, as well as lentils and beans.
And the iftar...
At sunset, when it's time to mark the end of the daylong fast, families and friends gather for an evening meal known as "iftar".
Postcards from Ramadan festivities across India and the globe
Palestinians pray in front of the Dome of the Rock shrine during a holy month of Ramadan, in Jerusalem, Friday, May 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
A man distributes food packets to women to break their fast at the shrine of Makhdoom Ali Shah Mahim in Mumbai, Sunday, May 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Afghanistan Ramadan: Afghan families receive free food donated by other villagers as they prepare to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, May 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
A volunteer puts fruits in a bowl to distribute at the shrine of Makhdoom Ali Shah Mahimi in Mumbai, India, Sunday, May 12, 2019.
Palestinian Ramadan: Palestinians look at pickles on sale for Ramadan for the month of Ramadan, at the main market in Gaza City, Tuesday, May. 7, 2019.
Indonesia Ramadan: Indonesian Muslims collect food provided by Al Mashun Great Mosque for free to break their fast, at the end of the second day the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Tuesday, May 7, 2019.
A man buys dates, a favorite food for Muslims for 'iftar', the meal to break their fast, from a government-run bazaar specially set up for fasting month of Ramadan, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, May 7, 2019. Muslims around the world are observing Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar.
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