Turkey welcomes Muslim holy month of Ramadan

ANKARA 

Millions of Muslims in Turkey have started fasting on Thursday, with their commitment of non-indulgence from dawn to sunset during Ramadan - a month of prayer, fasting, charity and self-accountability.

During Ramadan, municipalities all over the country organized mass iftar meals - free meals consisting of soup, stew, pudding and juice - and street festivals such as clown and shadow puppet shows for locals.

Along with Turkish people, Syrian refugees have also broken their fast in Turkey’s Akcakale border.

The Akcakale municipality gave iftar meal to 1,000 Syrians, where about 100,000 refugees stay. 

Taner Yildiz, energy and natural resources minister, broke fast with the miners at a mine in the town of Zonguldak on Turkey's Black Sea coast.

"We suffered a lot in the past years in our mines, in Soma, in Ermenek. We should be careful about our workers' safety. It is more important to us than producing coal," he said, reflecting on the incident Turkey experienced.

Fasting, held from dawn to sunset during Ramadan, is one of the Five Pillars [fundamental religious duties] of Islam. Ramadan lasts 30 days.

Muslims are encouraged to scrutinize their behavior and refrain from bad habits during Ramadan.

Throughout the course of the fasting month, Muslims are urged to perform extra prayers, recite the Quran, give to the poor and refrain from misbehavior.  

In Ramadan, healthy adult Muslims, except those traveling, abstain from food, drink and smoking between dawn and sunset.