Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al Fitr after month of fasting for Ramadan
Muslims around the world are celebrating the holiday of Eid al Fitr.
People attend an Eid al Fitr prayer, marking the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan at a public park, outside El-Seddik Mosque in Cairo, Egypt© Reuters
After the Ramadan month of fasting, Muslims celebrate Eid al Fitr with a day of prayers, feasts and family visits.
People attempt to catch balloons released after Eid al Fitr prayers outside El-Seddik Mosque in Cairo© Reuters
Capital cities including Damascus, Baghdad and Beirut were crowded with worshippers heading to mosques and cemeteries.
Albanian Muslims celebrate Eid al Fitr prayers at Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, Albania© Reuters
Many Muslims visit the graves of their loved ones after the early morning prayer on the first day of Eid al Fitr.
A Palestinian celebrates while playing with a child following Eid al Fitr prayers© Reuters
Visitors bring bouquets of flowers, jugs of water for plants and brooms to clean gravestones.
“After the Eid prayer we always visit our dead… to pray and pay our respects, may God have mercy and forgive them on this blessed day,” said Atheer Mohamed in Baghdad’s Azamiya cemetery.
Palestinians attend Eid al-Fitr prayers at the compound that houses Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City© Reuters
But some countries rely on astronomical calculations rather than physical sightings.
This frequently leads to disagreements between religious authorities in different countries – and sometimes in the same country – over the start date of Eid al Fitr.
Muslims mark the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid a Fitr at Platt Fields Park in Manchester© Rex Features
Outside the Mohammad al-Amin Mosque in downtown of Beirut© Associated Press
