Eid ul-Fitr, often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity", while Fiṭr means "to break the fast" (and can also mean "nature", from the word "fitrah"); and so the holiday symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period. Here are pictures from around the world of the holiday. (16 images)
Thousands of Muslims circle the Kabaa inside and outside the Grand Mosque during Eid al-Fitr morning prayers in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008. Muslims pray celebrating Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy lunar month of Ramadan following a month fasting between daybreak and sunset. AP / Hassan Ammar
Indonesian women pray at the start of the Eid al-Fitr Holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month at a traditional port Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Millions in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country began the two-day holiday at home with their families. AP / Ed Wray
Indonesian sailors and their families pray in front of their traditional cargo ships known as Bugis boats at the start of the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008, in Jakarta, Indonesia. Millions in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, began the two day holiday at home with their families. AP / Ed Wray
Indonesians arrive by boat for prayers at the start of the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Millions in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, began the two day holiday at home with their families. AP / Ed Wray
People crowd a train to travel to their hometowns to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, in Lahore, Pakistan on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008. Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, will be celebrated this week, depending on the appearance of moon. AP / K.M.Chaudary
Bangladeshis hang on to a train on the way to their hometown to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008. Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, will be celebrated this week, depending on the appearance of moon. AP / Pavel Rahman
An Albanian Muslim woman, prays to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, near the Et'hem Beu mosque, in Tirana, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008. Thousands of people gathered at mosques around Albania celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. AP / Hektor Pustina
Saudi woman arrives to the Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque to offer Eid al-Fitr morning prayers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008. Muslims pray at Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy lunar month of Ramadan following a month fasting between daybreak and sunset. Muslims all over the world celebrate with Eid al-Fitr. AP / Hassan Ammar
People visit a cemetery, during the first day of Muslim holiday Eid, in Fallujah, Iraq, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008. Eid marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. AP / Hadi Mizban
Muslims clean themselves before a prayer at a mosque in the first day of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008. AP / Lai Seng Sin
Palestinian Muslims buy palm fronds to lay on the graves relatives as a tradition during the first day of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, in Jerusalem's Old City, Tuesday Sept. 30, 2008. Eid, one of the most important holidays in the Muslim world, is marked with family reunions and other festivities. AP / Muhammed Muheisen
A Pakistani shopkeeper arranges sweet named "Jalabi", which is made of flour and soaked in sugar syrup, for customers as people prepare to celebrate the Eid al-Fitr in Peshawar, Pakistan on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008. Muslims pray celebrating Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy lunar month of Ramadan following a month fasting between daybreak and sunset. AP / Mohammad Sajjad
Saudi Children play in a multi-coloured fountain outside the king Abdul al-Aziz museum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008. Muslims pray Tuesday celebrating Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy lunar month of Ramadan following a month fasting between daybreak and sunset. Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr. AP / Hassan Ammar
Saudi childern pose for a picture in the garden of King Abdul al-Aziz museum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008. Muslims pray celebrating Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy lunar month of Ramadan, following a month fasting between daybreak and sunset. Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr. AP / Hassan Ammar
Fireworks explode next to the Milad telecommunication tower in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008, on the eve of the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. Shiite Iran will celebrate the Eid al-Fitr on Wednesday. AP / Vahid Salemi
Palestinian Muslims walk next to the Dome of the Rock Mosque to attend Eid al-Fitr prayers, which mark the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, in the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City,Tuesday Sept. 30, 2008. Eid, one of the most important holidays in the Muslim world, is marked with family reunions and other festivities. AP / Muhammed Muheisen
