Pigeons fly outside the Shah-e Doh Shamshira mosque as Afghans head for morning prayers on Eid-al-Fitr in Kabul, Afghanistan, August 8, 2013. (Photo: REUTERS/Omar Sobhani)
Pigeons fly outside the Shah-e Doh Shamshira mosque as Afghans head for morning prayers on Eid-al-Fitr in Kabul, Afghanistan, August 8, 2013. (Photo: REUTERS/Omar Sobhani)

Muslims around the world celebrated Eid al-Fitr on 8 August by offering prayers at mosques, greeting each other and celebrating with banquets, as they marked the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Unlike the first day of Ramadan, which is observed with a sighting of the crescent moon in the western sky at sunset, Eid al-Fitr is celebrated after the setting of the sun.

After dusk hours, followers of Islam in several countries started Eid al-Fitr celebrations and gathered in streets. Lavish feasts are a core part of Eid al-Fitr celebrations after the month-long period of Ramadan, during which Muslims practice a fast from dawn until sunset, an act believed to bestow divine blessings on followers. Ramadan is also the month for acts of charity, donation and kindness.

Eid al-Fitr, a three-day festival, falls on the last Friday of Ramadan or on the first day of Shawwal, the month that follows Ramadan.

From the Lakemba mosque in Sydney to Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population, scroll down to see the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid festivities around the world...

Representational Image  (Photo: REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco)
Muslim women attend a prayer session to celebrate Eid al-Fitr at Luneta park, metro Manila August 8, 2013. Thousands of Filipino Muslims celebrated the Eid al-Fitir festival with morning prayers in the park to mark the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. (Photo: REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco) REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
A Muslim man prays at a mosque in the old quarters of Delhi on Eid al-fitr August 7, 2013. (Photo: REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal)
A Muslim man prays at a mosque in the old quarters of Delhi on Eid al-fitr August 7, 2013. (Photo: REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal)
Muslims pray during Eid al-Fitr at Lakemba mosque in Sydney August 8, 2013. (Photo: REUTERS/Daniel Munoz)
Muslims pray during Eid al-Fitr at Lakemba mosque in Sydney August 8, 2013. (Photo: REUTERS/Daniel Munoz)
People attend Eid al-Fitr prayers at Parang Kusumo beach, near the ancient city of Yogyakarta in Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population. (Photo: REUTERS/Ignatius Eswe)
People attend Eid al-Fitr prayers at Parang Kusumo beach, near the ancient city of Yogyakarta in Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population. (Photo: REUTERS/Ignatius Eswe)
Thousands of believers take part in morning prayers to celebrate the first day of Eid-al-Fitr in Moscow August 8, 2013. (Photo: REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin)
Thousands of believers take part in morning prayers to celebrate the first day of Eid-al-Fitr in Moscow August 8, 2013. (Photo: REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin)
A Palestinian girl prays next to a grave at a cemetery in the West Bank city of Ramallah on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, August 8, 2013. (Photo:  REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman)
A Palestinian girl prays next to a grave at a cemetery in the West Bank city of Ramallah on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, August 8, 2013. (Photo: REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman)
Sunni worshippers exchange greetings after their Eid al-Fitr prayers to mark the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan at a Sunni mosque in Baghdad, August 8, 2013.  (Photo: REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani)
Sunni worshippers exchange greetings after their Eid al-Fitr prayers to mark the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan at a Sunni mosque in Baghdad, August 8, 2013. (Photo: REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani)
Thousands of Filipino Muslims celebrated the Eid al-Fitir festival with morning prayers in the park to mark the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. (Photo: REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco)
Thousands of Filipino Muslims celebrated the Eid al-Fitir festival with morning prayers in the park to mark the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. (Photo: REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco)
Muslims attend a massive prayer session at Dongguan Great Mosque during Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, in Xining, Qinghai province August 8, 2013. (Photo: REUTERS/Simon Zo)
Muslims attend a massive prayer session at Dongguan Great Mosque during Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, in Xining, Qinghai province August 8, 2013. (Photo: REUTERS/Simon Zo)