Muslims in India mark end of Ramadan with Eid celebrations

Thousands of men and children clad in new attire and wearing skull caps offered Namaz-e-Eid in Eidgahs or open grounds and hundreds of mosques. Millions of Muslims across the world celebrated the first day of the Eid al-Fitr holiday today, which marks the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan. The Eid al-Fitr holiday is a time to celebrate the completion of Ramadan, a month devoted to worship and repentance during which observing Muslims abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset every day. President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday extended his greetings to fellow citizens on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. "On the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, I extend warm greetings and good wishes to all fellow citizens, particularly to my Muslim brothers and sisters in India and abroad," Mukherjee said in a statement. "As we celebrate this day which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, I hope that the festival with its tradition of giving and sharing enriches our lives with a spirit of brotherhood and empathy for the deprived," he said. The president hoped that the festival will "reinforce the nation's commitment to mutual harmony and radiate the message of India's composite culture to the whole world". With inputs from Agencies