Narinjara News, 23 April 2023

Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest festival of Muslims around the world, was celebrated in Arakan State as wellas in Myanmar on 22 April. The festivalbeginning after the end of  fasting in Ramadan will continue for the next three days.

The auspicious occasion began with the sighting of the crescent moon on 21 April. Next day  communityprayers were organised where thousands ofMulslims gathered in the capital city of Sittwe.

A local Muslim community leader informed that they have begun celebrating the festival across Myanmaron Saturday. Many non-Muslims havealso participated in the festival showing their gesture.

They were offered traditional sweets and exchanged goodwill. During the month of Ramadan, the Muslims go onfasting from sunrise to sunset.They do not eat anything during the period.

Muslim families living in Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships also organised Eid Jamaat in their mosques.Other States of Myanmar also witnessedthe festival by the believers of Islam.

Thousands of Muslims, who fled Rakhine State a few years back to Bangladesh, celebratedthe festival in the refugee camps there.

Currently, 750000Muslim people from Rakhine State have beentaking shelter in the neighbouring country, who left their villages in 2017 following a military operation byMyanmar armed forces.