The Muslim three-day Eid al-Fitr festival, marking the end of the month of Ramadan, began this weekend in parts of the world where sightings of the new moon were made. During Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, devout Muslims must abstain from food, drink, and sex from dawn until sunset. The fast, one of the five pillars of Islam, is seen as a time for spiritual reflection, prayers, and charity. After sunset, Muslims traditionally break the fast by eating three dates, performing the Maghrib prayer, and sitting down to Iftar, the main evening meal, where communities and families gather together. Gathered here are images of Muslim Americans observing Eid al-Fitr and Ramadan this year in New York, Connecticut, California, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
Ramadan 2017 in the USA
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Female members of the Egyptian-American Elhariry family (from left) Shahenda, 19, family friend Hanem Ghonaim, 18, daughter Hager, 24, and mother Faten Oda, take part in a Maghrib sunset prayer before Iftar dinner during Ramadan in Manalapan, New Jersey, on May 28, 2017. #
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Muslims walk onto a baseball field as they gather for the celebration of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, California, on June 25, 2017. #
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Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi of the Islamic Society of Orange County (lower left) speaks to Muslims gathered for the celebration of the Eid al-Fitr holiday at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 25, 2017. #
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Nevien Shehadeh, 19, a Palestinian American, sports a head scarf before leaving her house to take part in prayers and celebration for the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr in Staten Island, New York, on June 25, 2017. #
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Huda Quhshi, owner and cosmetologist at the Le'Jemalik Salon and Boutique, cuts the hair of a Muslim woman ahead of the Eid al-Fitr Islamic holiday in Brooklyn, New York, on June 21, 2017. #
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Yemeni-American boy Salman Udayni, 5, picks out his Eid gifts at Toys "R" Us after the family took part in Eid al-Fitr prayers in Brooklyn, New York, on June 25, 2017. #
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The Yemeni-American Udayni family gather around for a large Eid breakfast, made up of traditional Yemeni dishes, to celebrate Eid al-Fitr holiday in Brooklyn, New York, on June 25, 2017. #
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In Santa Ana, California, a family sits together as they break their Ramadan fast after sunset by eating halal Mexican tacos from a food truck, during a campaign called 'Taco Trucks at Every Mosque' at the Islamic Center on June 14, 2017. The organizers were promoting the scheme to try and demystify Islam and unite the Muslim and Latino communities. #
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Plates of food wait to be served before Muslims break their Ramadan fast after sunset, during a campaign called 'Taco Trucks at Every Mosque' at the Islamic Center in Santa Ana, California, on June 14, 2017. #
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Egyptian American Mysarah Zahran, 15, walks to the Islamic Cultural Center to take part in Tarawih prayers on the first day of Ramadan in Manhattan, New York on May 27, 2017. #
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Washington Square Arch is seen on the left as Muslim women praying Tarawih prayers are reflected in the window of the Islamic Center at New York University ahead of Ramadan in Manhattan, New York, on May 26, 2017. #
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Dina Sayedahmed, an Egyptian American with a major in journalism and political science from Rutgers University, smiles as she stands in front of a makeshift photo booth in her family's backyard ahead of a graduation celebration and Iftar feast during Ramadan in Bayonne, New Jersey, on June 2, 2017. #
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Friends and family gather in the backyard of the family house of Dina Sayedahmed, an Egyptian American Muslim with a major in journalism and political science from Rutgers University, to celebrate her graduation and take part in an Iftar feast in Bayonne, New Jersey, on June 2, 2017. #
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Egyptian-born Muslim Americans Ahmed Sayedahmed and wife Sahar Sayedahmed grill meat and make preparations for a college graduation celebration and Iftar feast for their daughter in Bayonne, New Jersey, on June 2, 2017. #
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People gather on McDonald Avenue for a prayer celebration of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn on June 25, 2017. #
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Hamadi Hamadi, 9, of Pittsburgh's North Side, waits for the prayer to begin during an Eid al-Fitr celebration, marking the end of Ramadan, on June 25, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. #
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With the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning seen in the background, hundreds of Muslims gather in prayer to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, on June 25, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. #
Justin Merriman / Getty
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