Ramadan is a special time of year when Muslims worldwide focus on spiritual reflection, self-improvement, and heightened devotion and worship. Lasting 29 to 30 days, it is regarded to be one of the Five Pillars of Islam - but its 'start date' changes each year as the Islamic calendar is based on lunar cycles, not the Gregorian calendar.
This year, it is predicted that Ramadan will be observed from the evening of Wednesday, March 22 until the evening of Friday, April 21, when a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community will be carried out, but an official confirmation won't come for a while yet.
Ramadan ends either after sighting the new crescent moon that indicates the arrival of the 10th month or after Ramadan’s 30th day - in the Isalamic calendar, each month begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon and lasts either 29 or 30 days.
