This footage was filmed and produced 11 April 2024.

[Note: partially no sound]

With the arrival of the crescent moon in the tenth month of the Muslim calendar, the faithful of Islam celebrate the end of the month of fasting: Eid al-Fitr. For Nadia, a Moroccan who has lived in Spain for 20 years, it is a time of maximum introspection, but also of happiness and pride in tradition.

Like her, millions of Muslims around the world woke up this Wednesday with the traditional prayers to God. A moment that this year has been shrouded in light and shadow as war continues to rage in several countries with Islamic followers.

Despite the Western view that fasting is the main feature of this holiday, Ramadan, which takes place in the ninth holy month of the Islamic calendar, is a time of personal reflection in which practitioners seek to strengthen their bond with Allah, eliminate negative thoughts and connect with the community.

"The heavens open and the angels come down. If we pray and do fasting and good, God forgives us our sins and accepts our requests, which are fulfilled when the month of fasting is over," says the Moroccan.
Eid al-Fitr translates as "feast of breaking the fast" and takes place during the three days following the month known as Shawwal, the month after Ramadan. Nadia celebrated it with her children, who this year wanted to join her in order to continue the tradition. Although minors are exempt from fasting (sawm) during the holy month, they usually share the end of the festival with their families.

The feast begins early in the morning with communal prayers before a varied breakfast is prepared later in the day, usually with the participation of family and friends. Banquets and social gatherings follow one after the other throughout these days of celebration as a time to share "joy with others", Nadia says.

At the same time, it is seen as a good time to wear new clothes, which are carefully prepared days or even weeks in advance. Children often receive presents and it is also a tradition to visit relatives in the cemeteries.

SHOTLIST:
1. various from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (Nov 17, 2023);
2. various people praying in Cairo mosque (Apr 11, 2024);
3. various from Bangladesh market (Mar 5, 2024);
4. various from markets in Turkey .