In Pictures

Millions of Muslims observe fasting as Ramadan begins

From Indonesia to the United States, Muslims around the world welcome the holy month of Ramadan.

Muslim women attend prayers at the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Al-Akbar Mosque, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, May 16, 2018. REUTERS/Sigit Pamungkas — Muslim women attend prayers on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at al-Akbar Mosque, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia. [Sigit Pamungkas/Reuters]

For millions of Muslims around the world, the holy month of Ramadan began on Thursday.

The first day of Ramadan – the holiest month for Muslims – is observed according to the local visibility of the new crescent moon. In some countries, Wednesday was the first day of the holy month.

Muslims around the world will be fasting every day for a month, refraining from eating, drinking and smoking from sunrise to sunset.

It is a month of self-discipline and empathy for those living in poverty.

As one of the five pillars of Islam, fasting during Ramadan is accompanied by increased spiritual reflection, worship and acts of charity.

Members of the moon sighting committee gather and use telescope for the new moon that will mark the start of Ramadan, from Pakistan''s Meteorological Department (PMD) building in Karachi, Pakistan May — Members of the moon sighting committee gather to view the new moon through a telescope. The new moon marks the start of Ramadan, from Pakistan's Meteorological Department building in Karachi, Pakistan. [Akhtar Soomro/Reuters]

Bosnian Ramadan gunner Smail Krivic fires a round from his firework cannon to signal the end of dawn-to-dusk fast in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Wednesday evening, May 16, 2018. Muslim Bosniaks make up around 4 — Bosnian Ramadan gunner Smail Krivic fires his cannon to signal the end of the dawn-to-dusk fast in Sarajevo, Bosnia, on Wednesday evening. [Amel Emric/AP Photo]

Muslims break their fast on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Victory Park near Memorial Mosque in Moscow, Russia on May 16, 2018. (Photo by Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Image — Muslims break their fast on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan at Victory Park near Memorial Mosque in Moscow, Russia. [Sefa Karacan/Anadolu/Getty Images]

Palestinians perform an evening prayer called ''tarawih'' marking the first eve of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, outside the tents of the protest camp near the Israeli border east of Gaza City, Wed — Palestinians perform an evening prayer called 'tarawih' marking the first eve of the holy month of Ramadan outside the protest camp tents near the Israeli border east of Gaza City. [Adel Hana/AP Photo]

A customer purchases prayer beads ahead of the upcoming holy fasting month of Ramadan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, May 16, 2018. Muslims across the world are observing the holy fasting month of R — A customer purchases prayer beads ahead of Ramadan in Kabul, Afghanistan. [Rahmat Gul/AP Photo]

Shia worshippers gather near the golden-domed shrine of Imam Moussa al-Kadhim, in the background, to mark the beginning of Ramadan in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, May 16, 2018. Muslims throughout the wor — Shia worshippers gather near the golden-domed shrine of Imam Moussa al-Kadhim to mark the beginning of Ramadan in Baghdad, Iraq. [Hadi Mizban/AP Photo]

A boy looks at the skull caps before buying one on the eve of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, outside the Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque) in the old quarters of Delhi, India, May 16, 2018. REUTERS/Adnan — A boy buys a skull cap on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan, outside the Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque) in the old quarters of Delhi, India. [Adnan Abidi/Reuters]

People break their fast in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Wednesday, May 16, 2018 on the first day of the fasting month of Ramadan. Muslims throughout the world are marking Ramadan - a — Breaking the fast in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan. [Emrah Gurel/AP Photo]

A Muslim woman touches prayer beads during Tarawih prayers at Eyup Sultan Cultural Center on the first day of Ramadan in Brooklyn, New York, U.S., May 16, 2018. REUTERS/Gabriela Bhaskar — A Muslim woman's prayer beads during tarawih prayers at Eyup Sultan Cultural Center on the first day of Ramadan in Brooklyn, New York, US. [Gabriela Bhaskar/Reuters]