Obama sends best wishes to Muslims as Ramadan starts

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday extended his best wishes to Muslims around the world as Ramadan, the month of Islamic fasting, starts.

"On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I want to extend our best wishes to Muslims in America and around the world, " Obama said in a statement released by the White House.

"Ramadan is a celebration of a faith known for great diversity and racial equality. And here in the United States, Ramadan is a reminder that Islam has always been part of America and that American Muslims have made extraordinary contributions to our country," Obama said.

He also said he will host a dinner celebrating Ramadan at the White House later this week.

Since he took office, Obama has been reaching out to the Muslims, in an effort to improve America's negative image in the Muslim world.

Ramadan is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and sexual activities from dawn until sunset.

The first day of Ramadan this year was determined to be on Wednesday.



Gazans prepare for Ramadan amid poverty

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The scenes of crowds and the traffic jam in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis were unusual amid a hot and humid day, as people were preparing for the fasting month of Ramadan, which starts on Wednesday.

Street vendors are showing various kinds of food products, such as cheese, diary products, jams and pickles on small tables they put in the city's main street. They were shouting to sell their goods as they are competing in showing better prices and better qualities of goods.

Egyptians celebrate Ramadan in their own ways

CAIRO, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- As the Muslim's holy month of Ramadan falls on Wednesday, Hassan Ali, a 35-year-old Egyptian man tours the El-Sayyeda Zeinab area of Cairo's old town to find his little son a suitable lantern.

In Egypt, Fanoos (the Arabic word for lantern) is a decoration used during Ramadan, which was first seen during the Fatimid era (909-1171 A.D.). Besides, Egyptians have other unique ways to celebrate the occasion, the ninth month in the Muslim lunar calendar, when Muslims are required to abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk. Some of the celebrations are not directly related to religions.