Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins

Cuttack/Bhubaneswar: Ramadan, the holy month of fasting for Muslims, began on Monday with the new moon being sighted yesterday evening.

Anjuman Islamia Committee, the moon sighting committee of Cuttack responsible for officially declaring the ritual of Ramjaan month, announced that the holy month will start from Monday as the new moon had sighted.

Moon sighting reports have also come in from other states including Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Jhakrkhand. A majority of other states will be observing the month-long fasting from Tuesday.

Notably, Ramadan, also known as Ramzan, is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

Believed to be the month when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad, Muslims fast every day for an entire month, abstaining from food and water from dawn to dusk, besides devoting more time to prayer and doing charity.

Ramadan ends with Eid-ul-Fitr and lasts 29 or 30 days depending on the calendar.