Ramzan (Ramadan) festival guide

Month

Ninth month of the Islamic calendar (dates shift each year)

Duration

29 or 30 days

Ends with

Eid al-Fitr

Key practices

Fasting from dawn to sunset, suhur, iftar, charity

When it happens

Because the Islamic calendar follows the moon, Ramzan moves about eleven days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar, so it can fall in any season over time. It begins after the sighting of the new crescent moon and lasts 29 or 30 days. Local religious authorities and mosques announce the start and the end, which is why dates can differ by a day between regions.

Fasting and prayer

Fasting is seen as a way of purifying both body and mind, and of building self-discipline and empathy for people in need. The day begins with a pre-dawn meal called suhur (sehri in India) and the fast is broken at sunset with iftar, traditionally starting with dates and water.

Children, pregnant women, travellers and people who are unwell are exempt, and those who miss fasts through short illness are expected to make up the days later. Many people also attend long evening prayers called taraweeh at the mosque.

The Night of Power

Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power, falls in the last ten nights of Ramzan. It commemorates the night the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, and many Muslims spend it in extended prayer.

Charity and Eid

Giving is central to the month. Zakat and the special Eid charity, zakat al-fitr, are often paid during Ramzan so that poorer families can celebrate too. The month closes with Eid al-Fitr, when families dress in new clothes, attend morning prayers, visit relatives and share sweets such as sheer khurma.

Tips for travellers

Evenings are a good time to visit old city areas known for iftar food, such as parts of Hyderabad, Chennai and Kozhikode, where stalls sell haleem, kebabs and nonbu kanji. Be considerate about eating in front of people who are fasting, dress modestly near mosques and expect some shops to change their hours.