Millions of Muslims across the world are celebrating the first day of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan.

Families wore their finest clothes as they headed to mosques early in the morning to observe traditional Eid prayers but the mood was dark for millions of people affected by the Syrian civil war, the Gaza war and the Islamist militant advance in Iraq.

Muslims in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, across the Middle East, Europe and the US are celebrating Eid today but millions in India, Pakistan and Morocco are still fasting and will likely celebrate tomorrow. Muslims use a lunar calendar and a moon-sighting methodology that can lead to the fast ending on different days.