In Pictures

Eid al-Fitr 2019: Muslims around the world celebrate

Eid al-Fitr means ‘festival of breaking the fast’ and marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Turkey''s Muslims offer prayers during the first day of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, early Tuesday, June 4, 29. (AP Photo — Turkey's Muslims pray during the first day of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul. [Emrah Gurel/AP Photo]

Muslims around the world are celebrating the three-day Eid al-Fitr festival, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

The timing of Eid al-Fitr, or “the festival of breaking the fast”, begins with the first sighting of the new moon, and it often varies from country to country.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Afghanistan, Iraq and Nigeria started Eid on Tuesday, whereas Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, India and Australia and others won’t start until Wednesday.

Celebrations begin with a special early morning prayer in mosques and open-air spaces and later move on to feasts and festivals.

Amira, 10 months-old, holds her mother''s hands while waiting for the start of Eid al-Fitr prayers in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, June 4, 2019. Members of the Romanian Muslim community gathered for Ei — Amira, 10 months old, holds her mother's hands while waiting for the start of Eid al-Fitr prayers in Bucharest, Romania. [Andreea Alexandru/AP Photo]

Muslim worshippers pray during a mass prayer to celebrate Eid al-Fitr on June 4, 2019 at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa. Muslims worldwide celebrate the Eid al-Fitr holidays, which mark the end of — Muslim worshippers pray to celebrate Eid al-Fitr at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. [John Wessels/AFP]

Russian police officers help Muslim believers cross a street following the annual celebration of Eid al-Fitr in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, June 4, 2019. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Muslims'' holy fa — Russian police officers help Muslim believers cross a street following the annual celebration of Eid al-Fitr in Moscow, Russia. [Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Photo]

Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr with mass prayers marking the end of Ramadan in Abuja, Nigeria June 4, 2019 REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde — Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr with mass prayers marking the end of Ramadan in Abuja, Nigeria. [Afolabi Sotunde/Reuters]

Libyan Muslim worshippers gather to perform Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Martyrs Square of the capital Tripoli on June 4, 2019. Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid al-Fitr marking the end of the Muslim holy — Libyan Muslim worshippers gather to perform Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Martyrs Square in the capital Tripoli. [Mahmud Turkia/AFP]

Indonesian Muslims shop for balloons after attending morning prayers to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, at Sunda Kelapa port in Jakarta, Indonesia, June 5, — Indonesian Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr at Sunda Kelapa port in Jakarta, Indonesia. [Willy Kurniawan/Reuters]

Muslims girls show their hands painted with henna to celebrate the Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at a Mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan, Tuesday, June 4, 201 (AP Pho — Muslim girls show their hands painted with henna to celebrate Eid al-Fitr at a Mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan. [Muhammad Sajjad/AP Photo]

Muslims offer Eid al-Fitr prayers outside a train station in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, June 5, 2019. Eid al-Fitr is a holiday marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, which is observed by million — Muslim worshipers pray to celebrate Eid al-Fitr outside a train station in Mumbai, India.[Rajanish Kakade/AP Photo]

Security forces stand guard outside the 17th of Ramadan mosque as Muslims gather for prayers on the first day of Eid al-Fitr in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, June 4, 2019. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the M — Security forces stand guard outside the 17th of Ramadan Mosque as Muslims gather for prayers on the first day of Eid al-Fitr in Baghdad, Iraq. [Khalid Mohammed/AP Photo]

A Palestinian woman stands next to sweets for sale as Palestinians shop ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Jerusalem''s Old City Ju — Palestinians shop ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr in Jerusalem's Old City. [Ammar Awad/Reuters]

Eid al-Fitr in Afghanistan- - MAZAR-I-SHARIF, AFGHANISTAN - JUNE 4: Muslims arrive to perform Eid al-Fitr prayer at Rawza-i-Sharif (Shrine of Ali) mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan on June 4, 2019 — Muslims arrive to perform Eid al-Fitr prayer at the Blue Mosque (Rawza-i-Sharif or Shrine of Ali Mosque) in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan. [Sayed Khodaberdi Sadat/Anadolu]

A young Muslim girl enjoys a swing ride at Eastleigh High School in Nairobi, Kenya, 04 June 2019. Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid al-Fitr, the three day festival marking the end of the Mu — A young Muslim girl enjoys a swing ride at Eastleigh High School in Nairobi, Kenya on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr. [Dai Kurokawa/EPA]

Muslims perform Eid al-Fitr prayer at Addis Ababa Stadium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on June 4, 2019. Anadolu/Minasse Wondimu Hailu — Muslims perform Eid al-Fitr prayer at Addis Ababa Stadium in Ethiopia. [Minasse Wondimu Hailu/Anadolu]