Thousands of Muslims gathering in the grounds of the Grand Mosque, in Islam’s holiest city of Mecca, for dawn (fajir) prayer yesterday, as they started their day-long fast during the holy month of Ramadan. Observant Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan. The start of Ramadan, the ninth and holiest month in the Muslim calendar, is traditionally determined by the sighting of a new moon.

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