Ramadan

Turkey has welcomed the beginning of the Eid-al Fitr holiday, also known as the "Ramadan holiday," which begins on May 2 as the holy month of Ramadan has come to an end.

The three-day Eid holiday boosted domestic tourism, with millions hitting the roads days after the indoor mask mandate in the country was partly lifted after two years of strict coronavirus measures.

A combination of Eid al-Fitr and Mother's Day has led to an increase in retail sales, according to sector representatives.

The demand for Mother's Day shopping, to be marked on May 9, has come at a time when people already have started shopping for Eid, which will take place on May 2-4 at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The COVID-19 situation in Turkey is expected to improve further this summer, experts have said, while also warning about risks from social events during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Nun Schools, a prominent education center located in Istanbul, is organizing the third edition of its international photography competition this year.

The event invites primary, middle and high school students from all over the world to capture the spirit of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month currently being observed.

The municipality of the northwestern province of Tekirdağ's Süleymanpaşa district on April 3 set up a kilometer-long chain of tables where some 4,000 residents broker their fast together.

The municipality called the Ramadan event "Table of hearts."

Today begins the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims, which will last until May 1. Believers are encouraged to spend their time meditating on God, doing good deeds, and giving away alms.

Azerbaijan has changed the country's Ramadan timetable with Iran to set it in compliance with Turkey this year, according to Turkish media reports.

"This is a first and an interesting development," said Ramin Sadık, an Azerbaijani historian.

Ramadan begins on April 2 with the first sahur, a meal before dawn, in Turkey and on April 3 in Iran.

Azerbaijan has changed the country's Ramadan timetable with Iran to set it in compliance with Turkey this year, according to Turkish media reports.

"This is a first and an interesting development," said Ramin Sadık, an Azerbaijani historian.

Ramadan begins on April 2 with the first sahur, a meal before dawn, in Turkey and on April 3 in Iran.

Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, is being celebrated in Turkey under the shadow of strict measures to stem the spread of COVID-19 disease for the second year in a row.

Mass prayers, iftar dinners - breaking the daily fast - and family and neighbourhood gatherings are essential parts of Ramadan, besides other events such as concerts, fairs and conferences.

Finally, in Eid al-Fitr, known also in the Balkans as Ramazan Bajram, believers come together to celebrate the end of the holy month.