Ramadan celebrations around the globe | CNN

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Muslims gather for an Eid al-Fitr prayer, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, at the Bradford Central Mosque in Bradford, England, on Thursday, May 13.
Muslims gather for an Eid al-Fitr prayer, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, at the Bradford Central Mosque in Bradford, England, on Thursday, May 13.
Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images
World

Ramadan celebrations around the globe

Updated 12:21 PM EDT, Thu May 13, 2021
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In many parts of the Muslim world, the holy month of Ramadan began on April 12. For the second year in a row, practicing Muslims observed the month during a pandemic -- a reality that would, again, disrupt age-old communal traditions for many.

The daily Ramadan fast is broken at dusk, not just with food and drink but with a gathering of friends, family and colleagues. It's also a time when financially secure Muslims are encouraged to feed poorer families in their larger communities.

Once again, Muslim communities tried to come together while staying physically apart.

Muslims ride a Ferris wheel in Nairobi, Kenya, during Eid al-Fitr celebrations on May 13.
Muslims ride a Ferris wheel in Nairobi, Kenya, during Eid al-Fitr celebrations on May 13.
Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images
People traveling for Eid al-Fitr rush to a ferry terminal in Munshiganj, Bangladesh, on May 13.
People traveling for Eid al-Fitr rush to a ferry terminal in Munshiganj, Bangladesh, on May 13.
Mahmud Hossain Opu/AP
A man arranges his son's traditional head covering after Eid al-Fitr prayers in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, on May 13.
A man arranges his son's traditional head covering after Eid al-Fitr prayers in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, on May 13.
Amr Nabil/AP
People buy chicken at a market in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, as they prepare for Eid al-Fitr on Wednesday, May 12.
People buy chicken at a market in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, as they prepare for Eid al-Fitr on Wednesday, May 12.
Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
A man reads verses from the Quran at the Khaldi mosque in Gaza City on Saturday, May 9.
A man reads verses from the Quran at the Khaldi mosque in Gaza City on Saturday, May 9.
Hatem Moussa/AP
A woman prays outside the Dome of the Rock at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Friday, May 7.
A woman prays outside the Dome of the Rock at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Friday, May 7.
Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images
A child has her face painted during a gathering for a mass iftar (fast-breaking) meal in Aleppo, Syria, on May 6.
A child has her face painted during a gathering for a mass iftar (fast-breaking) meal in Aleppo, Syria, on May 6.
Muhammed Said/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Muslims in Islamabad, Pakistan, take part in a May 4 procession to commemorate the anniversary of the death of the Prophet Mohammad's companion and son-in-law, Imam Ali.
Muslims in Islamabad, Pakistan, take part in a May 4 procession to commemorate the anniversary of the death of the Prophet Mohammad's companion and son-in-law, Imam Ali.
Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty Images
A health worker administers a Covid-19 test at a bus station in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on May 3, ahead of Eid al-Fitr homecomings.
A health worker administers a Covid-19 test at a bus station in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on May 3, ahead of Eid al-Fitr homecomings.
Chaideer Mahyuddin/AFP/Getty Images
A dancer performs a Sufi dance at a party in Cairo on May 1.
A dancer performs a Sufi dance at a party in Cairo on May 1.
Ahmed Goma/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images
Coal miners pray as they break their fast underground in Zenica, Bosnia-Herzegovina, on April 29.
Coal miners pray as they break their fast underground in Zenica, Bosnia-Herzegovina, on April 29.
Kemal Softic/AP
A man swings sparkler fireworks on a beach in Gaza City on April 26.
A man swings sparkler fireworks on a beach in Gaza City on April 26.
Hatem Moussa/AP
Volunteers prepare iftar food plates for Muslim devotees to break their fast in Karachi, Pakistan, on April 23.
Volunteers prepare iftar food plates for Muslim devotees to break their fast in Karachi, Pakistan, on April 23.
Rizwan Tabassumi/AFP/Getty Images
Muslims take part in Friday prayers outside a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan, on April 23.
Muslims take part in Friday prayers outside a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan, on April 23.
Muhammad Sajjad/AP
People practice social distancing at the Putra Mosque in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on April 16.
People practice social distancing at the Putra Mosque in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on April 16.
Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty Images
A child plays with soap bubbles as Muslims prepare to break their fast in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
A child plays with soap bubbles as Muslims prepare to break their fast in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
A Muslim devotee prays before breaking his fast in Karachi, Pakistan.
A Muslim devotee prays before breaking his fast in Karachi, Pakistan.
Rizwan Tabassum/AFP/Getty Images
Muslims perform the evening "tarawih" prayer around the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on April 13. Only people who've been vaccinated or recently recovered from Covid-19 will be allowed to perform prayers at the Grand Mosque.
Muslims perform the evening "tarawih" prayer around the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on April 13. Only people who've been vaccinated or recently recovered from Covid-19 will be allowed to perform prayers at the Grand Mosque.
AFP/Getty Images
A man in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, prays at the Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque on April 14.
A man in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, prays at the Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque on April 14.
Francois Nel/Getty Images
Muslims pray after breaking their fast at the Massalikul Jinaan mosque in Dakar, Senegal.
Muslims pray after breaking their fast at the Massalikul Jinaan mosque in Dakar, Senegal.
Leo Correa/AP
Workers in Allahabad, India, prepare vermicelli, which is used in a traditional sweet dish popularly consumed during Ramadan.
Workers in Allahabad, India, prepare vermicelli, which is used in a traditional sweet dish popularly consumed during Ramadan.
Sanjay Kanojia/AFP/Getty Images
Muslims perform evening prayers at the Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo.
Muslims perform evening prayers at the Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo.
Sayed Hassan/Picture Alliance/Getty Images
Coal-mine workers pray at a pre-dawn meal in Zonguldak, Turkey.
Coal-mine workers pray at a pre-dawn meal in Zonguldak, Turkey.
Gokhan Yilmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Muslims in Segou, Mali, receive aid packages from Turkey.
Muslims in Segou, Mali, receive aid packages from Turkey.
Mehmet Kaman/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
A man prays at the Diyanet Center of America in Washington, DC.
A man prays at the Diyanet Center of America in Washington, DC.
Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
The Diyanet Center of America greets Muslims for the first prayer of this Ramadan.
The Diyanet Center of America greets Muslims for the first prayer of this Ramadan.
Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Children dance during a street celebration in Mosul, Iraq. This photo was taken with a long exposure.
Children dance during a street celebration in Mosul, Iraq. This photo was taken with a long exposure.
Zaid Al-Obeidi/AFP/Getty Images
A man reads a copy of the Quran at the Omari Grand Mosque in Gaza City.
A man reads a copy of the Quran at the Omari Grand Mosque in Gaza City.
Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images
Muslims pray at a mosque in Lhokseumawe, Indonesia.
Muslims pray at a mosque in Lhokseumawe, Indonesia.
Fachrul Reza/NurPhoto/Getty Images
People drive past a stall selling Ramadan lanterns in Shubra, a suburb of Cairo.
People drive past a stall selling Ramadan lanterns in Shubra, a suburb of Cairo.
Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images
A cannon is fired in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, to mark the beginning of Ramadan.
A cannon is fired in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, to mark the beginning of Ramadan.
Elman Omic/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
People spread out as they pray at a mosque in Zagreb, Croatia.
People spread out as they pray at a mosque in Zagreb, Croatia.
Stipe Majic/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Ahead of Ramadan, a woman buys pickles at a market in Nablus, West Bank.
Ahead of Ramadan, a woman buys pickles at a market in Nablus, West Bank.
Ayman Nobani/Xinhua/Getty Images
Muslims pray at the Al-Akbar Mosque in Surabaya, Indonesia.
Muslims pray at the Al-Akbar Mosque in Surabaya, Indonesia.
Suryanto/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Young Palestinians swing homemade sparklers in the Rafah refugee camp in Gaza.
Young Palestinians swing homemade sparklers in the Rafah refugee camp in Gaza.
Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images
A man in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, prepares a telescope to observe the new moon that marks the start of Ramadan.
A man in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, prepares a telescope to observe the new moon that marks the start of Ramadan.
Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
A Palestinian shopkeeper hangs a Ramadan lantern at her shop in the Old City of Jerusalem.
A Palestinian shopkeeper hangs a Ramadan lantern at her shop in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images
Ramadan messages are illuminated above the Camlica Mosque in Istanbul.
Ramadan messages are illuminated above the Camlica Mosque in Istanbul.
Islam Yakut/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

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