The auspicious month of Ramazan begins today when Muslims across the country will go on fast and mark special prayers in Mosques.

Although, Muslims in much of Asian countries began celebrating the holy month of Ramadan from Wednesday.

Tens of millions across the Muslim world fast from dawn to dusk and strive to be more pious and charitable during the month, which ends with the Eid holiday.

In the Catholic-majority Philippines, there were was tight security at the start of Ramadan in southern Muslim-populated areas after weekend clashes between troops and Islamic rebels left eight dead.

Before Ramadan began, authorities ordered a halt in military operations against a rebel splinter group that is seeking to derail peace negotiations between the country’s largest Muslim guerrilla force and Manila.

In Malaysia people were looking forward to breaking their fast at markets in a country whose multi-ethnic make-up — it is Muslim-majority but has sizeable Chinese and Indian communities — is reflected in a vast and varied selection of food.

 

Ramadan begins when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. It has yet to start in some Asian countries with large Muslim populations, including Pakistan and India.