Muslims around the world have welcomed Ramadan, a month of fasting, increased worship, heightened charity, good deeds and community. Christians are also fasting during Lent, the 40-day period of penance and prayer ahead of Easter, which marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
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Monks carry candles in front of an altar Feb. 4 Feb. 4 at Watt Munisotaram in Hampton, Minn., to mark the Buddhist holiday of Magha Puja. Buddhist monks generally refrain from taking solid food after noon every day.
Orthodox Christian clergy mark Palm Sunday on April 17 at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a place where Christians believe Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and resurrected, in Jerusalem. During Lent, many Christians observe a 40-day period of penance, prayer and fasting.
Hindu devotees bathe and perform morning rituals July 10 during Devshayani Ekadashi, an auspicious day for devotees of Hindu god Vishnu, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh state, India. In Hinduism, fasting is a voluntary act of spiritual purification.
People break their fast after dusk on March 23, the first day of Ramadan, backdropped by the iconic Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. Abstaining from all food and drink from dawn to sunset during Ramadan is regarded as an act of devotion to God.
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men buy chickens Oct. 3 in Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, Israel, before the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish year. Yom Kippur involves a 25-hour fasting period.
Photos: Muslims around the world observe Ramadan
Volunteers prepare food plates for people to break their fast on the first day of the Muslims holy fasting month of Ramadan, at a mosque, in Karachi, Pakistan, Thursday, March 23, 2023. Muslims across the world is observing the Ramadan, when they refrain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)
Somalis buy watermelons for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, at a market in Mogadishu, Somalia Thursday, March 23, 2023. The Muslim holy month of Ramadan has begun and the faithful are preparing for a month of dawn-to-dusk fasting intended to bring them closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of those less fortunate. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
Muslims gather for a free public Iftar meal during the first day of Ramadan at sheikh Abdul qader Gilani mosque in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, March 23, 2023. Muslims throughout the world are marking the Ramadan -- a month of fasting during which observants abstain from food, drink and other pleasures from sunrise to sunset. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
Muslim men rest after the first Friday prayer of the fasting month of Ramadan at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, March 24, 2023. Muslims around the world are observing Ramadan, the holiest month on the Islamic calendar, where they refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sex from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
People break their fast during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, at Badshahi mosque, in Lahore, Pakistan, Monday, March 27, 2023. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
Fishermen pray before breaking their fast during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, at a harbor, in Karachi, Pakistan, Monday, March 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)
Algerians pray in Algiers, Monday March 27, 2023, on the fifth day of the Ramadan. Muslims over the world celebrate the holy fasting month of Ramadan. (AP Photo/Fateh Guidoum)
A woman buys dates at a market in Algiers, Monday March 27, 2023, on the fifth day of the Ramadan. Muslims over the world celebrate the holy fasting month of Ramadan. (AP Photo/Fateh Guidoum)
People eat 'Sehri', pre-dawn meal before fasting, during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, at a free meal distribution point, in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)
People buy "iftar" food to break their fast during the first week of Ramadan in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, March 28, 2023. Muslims around the world are observing Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, where they refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
A Muslim woman sells "iftar" food to break their fasting during the first week of Ramadan in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, March 28, 2023. Muslims around the world are observing Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, where they refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Indonesian Muslims break their fasting at a cafe in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, March 28, 2023. Muslims around the world are observing Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, where they refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
A volunteer distributes food packets among travelers for breaking their fast during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)
Kashmiri Muslim children attend recitation classes of the holy Quran during the fasting month of Ramadan in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Sunday, March 26, 2023. Muslims across the world are observing the holy fasting month of Ramadan, where they refrain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
People visit the Faisal Mosque during the Muslims holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Sunday, March 26, 2023. Muslims across the world are observing the Ramadan, when they refrain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
Walid Hattab distributes hot wheat soup and porridge to poor residents before they break their fast at sunset during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at the Shijaiyah neighborhood in Gaza City, Sunday, March 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
A young Palestinian man is draped in his prayer rug at Damascus Gate after praying at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in the Old City of Jerusalem, Sunday, March 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
Palestinian girls buy sweets after praying at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in the Old City of Jerusalem, Sunday, March 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
People make traditional unleavened Libyan bread made out of barley in Tajoura, east of Libya's capital Tripoli, Sunday, March 26, 2023, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. (AP Photo/Yousef Murad)
People serve traditional unleavened Libyan bread made out of barley in Tajoura, east of Libya's capital Tripoli, Sunday, March 26, 2023, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. (AP Photo/Yousef Murad)
People break their fast during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, at the Badshahi mosque, in Lahore, Pakistan, Monday, March 27, 2023. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
People break their fast during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, at the Badshahi mosque, in Lahore, Pakistan, Monday, March 27, 2023. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
Students perform a mid-day prayer before a Quran reading class during the first week of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Ar-Raudlatul Hasanah Islamic Boarding School in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Saturday, March 25, 2023. Muslims around the world are observing Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, where they refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sex from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara)
Students attend a Quran reading class during the first week of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Ar-Raudlatul Hasanah Islamic Boarding School in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Saturday, March 25, 2023. Muslims around the world are observing Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, where they refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sex from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara)
Shiites attend prayers during the holy month of Ramadan in the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, Iraq, Saturday, March 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)
Shiites attend prayers during the holy month of Ramadan in the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, Iraq, Saturday, March 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)
Shiites attend prayers during the holy month of Ramadan in the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, Iraq, Saturday, March 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)
People wait to get free food distributed by volunteers during the Muslims holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Saturday, March 25, 2023. Muslims across the world are observing the Ramadan, when they refrain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)
Muslim volunteers carry water boxes during the Muslims holy fasting month of Ramadan, at a free meal distributing point in Al-Azhar mosque, the Sunni Muslim world's premier Islamic institution, in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, March 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Muslims prepare to break fast during the Muslims holy fasting month of Ramadan, at a free meal distributing point in Al-Azhar mosque, the Sunni Muslim world's premier Islamic institution, in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, March 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Muslims break their fast during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, at a free meal distributing point in Al-Azhar mosque, the Sunni Muslim world's premier Islamic institution, in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, March 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
A Kashmiri Muslim girl reacts to camera as she attends recitation classes of the holy Quran during the fasting month of Ramadan in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Sunday, March 26, 2023. Muslims across the world are observing the holy fasting month of Ramadan, where they refrain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
Kashmiri Muslim children attend recitation classes of the holy Quran during the fasting month of Ramadan in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Sunday, March 26, 2023. Muslims across the world are observing the holy fasting month of Ramadan, where they refrain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
Nepalese Muslims perform ablution before prayer during the first day of Ramadan in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, March 24, 2023. Muslims throughout the world are marking the month of Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar during which devotees fast from dawn till dusk. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
People perform first Friday prayer during the Muslims holy fasting month of Ramadan, in a mosque, in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, March 24, 2023. Muslims across the world is observing the Ramadan, when they refrain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)
A Palestinians man hangs a poster that says "Al-Aqsa is waiting you. Wait for the signal" outside the Dome of Rock Mosque at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the Muslims holy month of Ramadan, in Jerusalem's Old City, Friday, March 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Volunteers prepare food plate to be distributed among people for breaking their fast during the Muslims holy fasting month of Ramadan, in a mosque, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Friday, March 24, 2023. Muslims across the world is observing the Ramadan, when they refrain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
A volunteer prepares food plate to be distributed among people for breaking their fast during the Muslims holy fasting month of Ramadan, in a mosque, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Friday, March 24, 2023. Muslims across the world is observing the Ramadan, when they refrain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
Children play as their families wait to break their fast on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Jama Masjid, in New Delhi, India, Friday, March 24, 2023. Islam's holiest month is a period of intense prayer, dawn-to-dusk fasting and nightly feasts. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Children play as their families wait to break their fast on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Jama Masjid, in New Delhi, India, Friday, March 24, 2023. Islam's holiest month is a period of intense prayer, dawn-to-dusk fasting and nightly feasts. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
