CAIRO (NEWSnet/AP) — Muslims around the world will soon participate in a ritual of fasting from dawn to sunset to observe the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

For Muslims, the month is a time of increased worship, charity and good deeds.

Socially, it often brings families and friends together in festive gatherings around meals to break their fast. Ramadan is followed by the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

Because Ramadan follows the Islamic lunar calendar; the month cycles through the seasons. The start of the month traditionally depends on the sighting of the crescent moon; this year, the first day is expected to be on or around March 11. There are some variations on how to determine the start of the month.

Fasting within the faith is regarded as an act of worship to attain God-conscious piety and one of submission to God. The devout see benefits including practicing self-restraint, cultivating gratitude, growing closer to God, and feeling for the poor and hungry.

Muslims often eat a pre-dawn meal, called “suhoor,” to hydrate and nurture their bodies ahead of fasting hours. The daily fast in Ramadan includes abstaining from all food and drink; not even a sip of water is allowed from dawn to sunset until breaking the fast in a meal known as “iftar” in Arabic.

Those fasting are expected to also refrain from bad deeds, such as gossiping, and increase good deeds.

Muslims typically stream into mosques for congregational prayers and dedicate more time for religious contemplation and the reading of the Quran, the Muslim holy book.

Charity is another hallmark of Ramadan. Among other ways of giving, many seek to provide iftar for the needy, distributing Ramadan boxes filled with pantry staples, handing out warm meals alongside such things as dates and juice or helping hold free communal meals.

Many social rituals center on gathering and socializing after the daily fast. Some Muslims decorate their homes, put out Ramadan-themed tableware and centerpieces or visit markets and Ramadan bazaars.

In Egypt, the Arab world’s most populous country, Ramadan is typically a festive time. Colorful lanterns dangle from children's hands and adorn homes or the entrances of buildings and stores. Ramadan songs may be played to welcome the month. Clusters of tents, featuring food and entertainment, pop up to cater to customers. Ramadan traditions in Egypt also include a pre-dawn banging on drums by a “mesaharati” who roams neighborhoods, calling out to the faithful, to wake them.

In the United States, which is home to a relatively small but diverse Muslim population, gathering at mosques and Islamic centers for iftar meals and prayers provides many Muslim families with a sense of community. Some Muslims also organize or attend interfaith iftar meals.

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