DHAKA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh Muslims on Sunday began fasting for the holy month of Ramadan.
Following the previous day announcement, Muslims in capital Dhaka and elsewhere in the country rushed to mosques on Saturday night to conduct special prayers for 1st Ramadan on Sunday.
Muslims here received the arrival of Ramadan gladly by offering tarawih prayer and then eating Sheri meal before fajr prayer early on Sunday.
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims conduct special prayers each night, called tarawih prayers, during which long portions of the Qur'an are recited.
Since Sunday afternoon, however, Muslims in Bangladesh capital Dhaka have been seen to throng traditional markets for purchasing Iftar, the evening meal when Muslims break their fast.
During Ramadan, the month of self-certification through fasting and abstinence, Muslims in Dhaka usually buy their Iftar from a century old traditional market in the old part of Dhaka.
There was no exception this time.
There was a festive atmosphere before sundown in old Dhaka's traditional market where makeshift stall owners and itinerant vendors sell food items to thousand of customers.
Sellers of scores of makeshift shops in the market were seen Sunday busy selling the unique and traditional items for Iftar.
Many in the country believe that the traditional Iftar items in this market have a distinct appeal to the food connoisseurs after daylong fasting during this month.
People were seen to buy food items for Iftar including several types of fruits, delicious kebab, custard and curd.
Muslims follow a lunar calendar and a moonlighting methodology that can lead to different countries declaring the start of Ramadan a day or two apart.
Traditionally, Muslim countries announce Ramadan if their moonlighting councils spot the Ramadan crescent in the evening before fasting begins.
Ramadan ends with the festival of Eid, one of the largest Muslim religious festivals.
