Ramzan, also called Ramadan, is the ninth and holiest month in the Islamic calendar, marked by Muslims as a month of piety, charity and thriftiness.

After sighting crescent moon in Hyderabad on Monday evening, the Muslim declared the begin of Ramzan month from Tuesday. However, Muslims in Delhi and some other parts of the country observed the beginning of Ramadan on Monday.

Observing the Ramadan fast is one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith, alongside the profession of faith, the five daily prayers, the giving of alms and the pilgrimage to Mecca.

The hijri calender has 11 days fewer than the solar Gregorian calendar, meaning that the start of Ramadan shifts back every year.

The fast is seen as a spiritual struggle against the temptations of earthly pleasures. It is also a chance to renew family and social bonds. Families gather at sundown for Iftar, the breaking of the fast, while many mosques serve free communal meals to the poor.

After the fast, many Muslims gather at mosques for special Ramadan prayers known as tarawih. The spiritual climax of the month is Laylat Al-Qadr (the night of power), which commemorates the moment the angel Gabriel first appeared to Islam's Prophet Mohammed and began revealing the Koran.

The final day of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr (the festival of fast-breaking), is a major family event marked by feasting and celebration.

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By M. Divya Shri