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Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr 2016

From China and Pakistan to India and Iraq, Muslims worldwide celebrate the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

A man performs ablution before the morning prayers for Eid al-Fitr in Colombo, Sri Lanka. [Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters]
A man performs ablution before the morning prayers for Eid al-Fitr in Colombo, Sri Lanka. [Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters]
6 Jul 2016

Muslims around the world are celebrating the three-day Eid al-Fitr festival, which commemorates the end of Islam’s holy month of Ramadan.

Eid al-Fitr, which means “festival of breaking the fast”, marks the end of a month-long abstinence from consuming liquids and food, as well as smoking and partaking in sexual activity, from sunrise to sunset. 

INTERACTIVE: The foods of Eid al-Fitr

The starting day of Eid varies every year and from country to country depending on geographical location. 

Eid celebrations begin with a special prayer in mosques and open-air areas.

Muslim families and communities across the world gather to celebrate with prayers, feasts and festivals.

Members of the Dawoodi Bohra community offering ''namaz'' prayers in Bhopal, India.[Sanjeev Gupta/EPA]
Members of the Dawoodi Bohra community offering ''namaz'' prayers in Bhopal, India.[Sanjeev Gupta/EPA]
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Men hug each other after Eid al-Fitr prayers in Behsood district of Nangarhar province, near Jalalabad, Afghanistan. [Ghulamullah Habibi/EPA]
Men hug each other after Eid al-Fitr prayers in Behsood district of Nangarhar province, near Jalalabad, Afghanistan. [Ghulamullah Habibi/EPA]
Sunni and Shia Muslims pray at the site of a suicide car bomb attack over the weekend in Baghdad's Karada area, Iraq. [Khalid Al-Mousily/Reuters]
Sunni and Shia Muslims pray at the site of a suicide car bomb attack over the weekend in Baghdad's Karada area, Iraq. [Khalid Al-Mousily/Reuters]
A Palestinian woman reads the Koran next to the grave of her son at a cemetery on the first day of Eid al-Fitr in Gaza City. [Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters]
A Palestinian woman reads the Koran next to the grave of her son at a cemetery on the first day of Eid al-Fitr in Gaza City. [Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters]
A child attends Eid al-Fitr prayers at Sunda Kelapa port in Jakarta, Indonesia. [Darren Whiteside/Reuters]
A child attends Eid al-Fitr prayers at Sunda Kelapa port in Jakarta, Indonesia. [Darren Whiteside/Reuters]
People arrive at the historic Niujie mosque as Muslims celebrate the Eid al-Fitr in the Chinese capital of Beijing. [Damir Sagolj/Reuters]
People arrive at the historic Niujie mosque as Muslims celebrate the Eid al-Fitr in the Chinese capital of Beijing. [Damir Sagolj/Reuters]
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Women pray in a public park in Manila, Philippines. [Bullit Marquez/AP]
Women pray in a public park in Manila, Philippines. [Bullit Marquez/AP]
Pakistani men sell balloons after Eid al-Fitr prayers at a mosque in Karachi. [Rehan Khan/EPA]
Pakistani men sell balloons after Eid al-Fitr prayers at a mosque in Karachi. [Rehan Khan/EPA]
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