Muslims celebrate Eid-al-Fitr that marks end of month of Ramadan

Hundreds of thousands of British Muslims have gathered to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr - a religious holiday that marks the end of the month of Ramadan.

Traditionally, Eid is celebrated for three days as an official holiday in all Muslim-majority countries. However, the number of vacation days varies by country.

Like the start of Ramadan, during which believers abstain from eating and drinking during daylight hours, Eid-al-Fitr depends on the sighting of the moon and its celebration varies in different countries. The day begins with early morning prayers and then family visits and feasts.

Eid-ul-Fitr is a religious celebration where Muslims thank Allah for the strength and self-control they were given while refraining from eating, drinking, smoking or sexual activity from dawn to dusk.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE started Eid on Tuesday, whereas Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Pakistan and Australia and others won't start till Wednesday.

The three-day holiday begins today after Saudi Arabia declared the end of the ninth month of the Umm al-Qura luna calendar.

Each country relies on a sighting of the crescent moon to tell them when Ramadan ends. In Indonesia and Malaysia Eid will not begin until tomorrow.

Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and marks the month the Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.