The holy month of Ramadan for Muslim community begins in the country on Tuesday as the new moon was sighted on Monday.The faithful spend the month of Ramadan in mosques for evening prayers known as ‘taraweeh,’ while free time during the day is often spent reading the Quran and listening to religious lectures.Each day for the month of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. Even a sip of water, coffee or a cigarette can invalidate one’s fast. There are exceptions to fasting for children, the elderly, the sick, women who are pregnant, nursing or menstruating, and people travelling.Many break their fast as the Prophet Muhammad did around 1,400 years ago, with a sip of water and some dates at sunset followed by prayer. It is common for Muslims to break their fast with family and friends and charities organize free meals for the public at mosques and other public spaces.The fast is intended to bring the faithful closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of those less fortunate.