Muslims celebrate Eid, marking Ramadan's end

Thu, July 7, 2016 / 09:58 pm

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Women wait for the Eid al-Fitr prayer service at Honda Center in Anaheim on Wednesday morning, July 6, 2016, in Anaheim, Calif. More than 5,000 Muslims joined for Eid Mudarak prayers on Wednesday morning. The event was put on by the Islamic Institute of Orange County. Bill Alkofer/The Orange County Register via AP
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A boy plays on some prayer rugs before the Eid al-Fitr prayer service at Honda Center on Wednesday, July 6, 2016, in Anaheim, Calif. More than 5,000 Muslims attended the Eid Mudarak prayers on Wednesday morning. The event was put on by the Islamic Institute of Orange County. Bill Alkofer/The Orange County Register via AP
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Muslims march during Eid al-Fitr prayers along the Mekong river of Tanong, northeast of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Wednesday, July 6, 2016. The Eid al-Fitr celebrations mark the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. AP Photo/Heng Sinith
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Iranian women pray during the Eid al-Fitr prayers in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, July 6, 2016. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi
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Muslim pray before the Shaykhs tombs, relics from the 13th century, after Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Niujie mosque, the oldest and largest mosque in Beijing, China, Wednesday, July 6, 2016. The Eid al-Fitr celebrations mark the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
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A child sits among men during the Eid al-Fitr prayers, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Wednesday, July 6, 2016. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari
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Muslim residents attend Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Niujie mosque, the oldest and largest mosque in Beijing, Wednesday, July 6, 2016. The Eid al-Fitr celebrations mark the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
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Muslims pray during morning prayer for Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, July 6, 2016. AP Photo/Vincent Thian
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Muslim women perform an Eid al-Fitr prayer marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Bali, Indonesia, Wednesday, July 6, 2016. AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati
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Muslims pray during morning prayer for Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, July 6, 2016. AP Photo/Vincent Thian
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Iranian women attend Eid al-Fitr prayers in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, July 6, 2016. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the muslim fasting month of Ramadan. AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi
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An Indian Muslim family takes a selfie after offering Eid al-Fitr prayers in Mumbai, India, Thursday, July 7, 2016. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. AP Photo/ Rajanish Kakade
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Indian Muslims hug and greet each other after offering Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Jama Mosque in New Delhi, India, Thursday, July 7, 2016. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.AP Photo/Manish Swarup
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Sunni Muslims living in Greece pray on the first day of Eid al-Fitr prayers in Piraeus near Athens, Wednesday, July. 6, 2016. Muslims worldwide are celebrating Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris
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A Lebanese cleric and an entertainer dressed in a Batman suit exchange greetings after Eid al-Fitr prayers that mark the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Wednesday, July 6, 2016. AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari
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Indian Muslims offer Eid al-Fitr prayers at the 14th century Ferozeshah Kotla Jami Mosque in New Delhi, India, Thursday, July 7, 2016. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. AP Photo/Manish Swarup
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Indian Muslims offer Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Jama Mosque in Ahmadabad, India, Thursday, July 7, 2016. AP Photo/Ajit Solanki

Muslims around the world are celebrating the Eid al-Fitr holiday, a time for family and feasting, to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadhan and its daytime fasting.

Businesses closed across the Muslim world, as people dressed up and visited relatives, enjoying their first daytime meals in a lunar month. Mosques hold special prayers at sunrise, and children are often given gifts or a special allowance.

The holiday lasts one to three days, and is eagerly anticipated after the month of fasting. During Ramadhan, the faithful refrain from eating, drinking, smoking or sexual activity from dawn to dusk, with even a small sip of water enough to invalidate the fast, which is one of the five pillars of Islam.