Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, May 5: The holy month of Ramadan will begin in the coastal region of Karnataka from Monday May 6.

The crescent moon was sighted on the night of Sunday May 5, after which Dakshina Kannada Qazi Takwa Ahmed Musliyar declared the start of the Ramadan month.

In Saudi Arabia and parts of the Gulf too, Ramadan will begin on May 6, while in most parts of India and the world, it will begin a day later.

In his Ramadan wishes, Qazi Twaka Ahmed Musliyar said, "May the month of fasting strengthen the harmony in society. Ramadan is a month that helps one to understand the real meaning of hunger and control one's emotions. This month emphasizes harmony and tolerance. Muslims who fast during the month should strive to better understand their own religion as well as strengthen their harmony with people of other religions. It the month to purify oneself. Muslims should welcome this month as a way to purify themselves morally and mentally. I wish everyone a blessed Ramadan."

Ramadan is the ninth and most sacred month in the Islamic calendar. Every day during the month, Muslims around the world fast from daybreak to dusk.

Muslims eat Sehri, which is an Islamic term refering to the meal consumed early in the morning before fasting, and break their fast at Iftar, the evening meal consumed to break the fast at sunset.

Special night prayers called Taraveeh are offered in mosques during Ramadan.

Fasting or Roza in the holiest month of Islamic lunar calendar is one of the five pillars of Islam. Fasting during Ramadan is not just about abstaining from food and drink, the real purpose is to attain purity and piousness in order to be closer to Allah.

Ramadan begins around 11 days earlier each year. Its start is calculated based on the sightings of the new moon, which marks the beginning of the Muslim lunar month that varies between 29 to 30 days. Ramadan culminates with the celebration of Id-ul-Fitr festival.