Photos of Ramadan 2013{ images warning}

[xchrom]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2013/07/photos-of-ramadan-2013/100550/

Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, began earlier this week, with the observation of the Hilal, or new moon. Throughout this ninth month on the Islamic calendar, devout Muslims must abstain from food, drink, and sex from dawn until sunset. The fast, one of the five pillars of Islam, is seen as a time for spiritual reflection, prayers, and charity. After sunset, Muslims traditionally break the fast by eating three dates, performing the Maghrib prayer, and sitting down to Iftar, the main evening meal, where communities and families gather together. Gathered here are images of Muslims around the world observing Ramadan this year, including areas of recent turmoil, like Egypt and Turkey. [33 photos]


A Yemeni girl wearing traditional costume, attends a festival for children to welcome the Holy month of Ramadan in the old city of Sanaa, Yemen, on July 8, 2013. Muslims throughout the world including Yemen prepared for the holy fasting month of Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar with the dawn-to-dusk fast, prayers and spiritual introspection. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed)


Muslim clerics scan the horizon for the crescent moon that will determine the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on July 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) #


Egyptians shop in a market on the eve of Ramadan, the sacred holy month for Muslims where many will fast from sun-up to sun-down, on July 9, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) #


A Palestinian man reads verses from the Quran, Islam's holy book, at al-Omari mosque on the first day of Ramadan, on July 10, 2013 in Gaza City. (Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images) #

[hlthe2b]

1. Beautiful photos.

[Shadowflash]

2. Those are some gorgeous photos

Especially the first and third ones.