Hyderabad, July 11: It is a spring of good deeds, a month of fasting, devotion, compassion, generosity, forgiveness and repentance. And India's 140 million Muslims, who constitute the world's third-largest Muslim population, observe Ramadan with both devotion and fervour.
Ramadan, the ninth month of Islamic calendar that began Thursday is the holy month during which Muslims observe 'roza' (fast), one of the five tenets of Islam.
The fasting is obligatory for all adult Muslims except those who are ill and travelling. During the fast, observed every day from dawn to sunset, Muslims refrain from consuming any food or water or engaging in sexual relations.
Muslims try to move closer to the Almighty Allah, seeking His forgiveness and mercy by daily offering 'namaz' five-times and also additional 'namaz' during night like 'Taraweeh' and 'Tahajjud' and reading of the holy Quran.
