In Pictures

In Pictures: Eid al-Fitr in the time of coronavirus

Subdued Eid celebrations across the Muslim world as many people mark the end of Ramadan under lockdown.

Displaced Syrian children play at a camp near the town of Maaret Misrin in Syria''s northwestern Idlib province on May 23, 2020, ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of the fa — Displaced children play at a camp near the town of Maaret Misrin in Syria's northwest Idlib province before the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. [Bakr AlKasem/AFP]

Muslims around the world have begun celebrating Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

One of the most important events in the Muslim calendar, Eid is traditionally celebrated with mosque prayers, family feasts and shopping for new clothes, gifts and sweet treats.

But this year, the celebration is overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic, with many countries tightening lockdown restrictions after a partial easing during Ramadan led to a sharp spike in infections.

Further dampening the festive spirit, multiple countries have banned mass prayer gatherings, a festival highlight, to limit the spread of COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus.

epa08440666 Muslims attend a morning prayer session to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, at Lokomotiv Stadium in Sofia, Bulgaria, 24 May 2020. Muslims around the world are celebra — Muslims attend the morning prayer session to celebrate Eid at Lokomotiv Stadium in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. [Vassil Donev/EPA]

Worshippers wearing protective face masks offer Eid al-Fitr prayers marking the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, outside a mosque to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, in Tehran, — Worshipers wearing protective face masks offer Eid prayers outside a mosque in Tehran, Iran. [Vahid Salemi/AP Photo]

Kosovo Imams keeping social distance pray at the grand mosque for an Eid al Fitr prayer in Pristina, Kosovo on Sunday, May 24, 2020. Kosovo''s mosques have been closed since March 14 because of the spr — Imams keeping physical distance at the grand mosque in Pristina, Kosovo, during Eid prayers. [Visar Kryeziu/AP Photo]

Muslims offer Eid al-Fitr prayer at an open area in Peshawar, Pakistan, Sunday, May 24, 2020. Millions of Muslims across the world are marking a muted and gloomy holiday of Eid al-Fitr, the end of the — Worshippers at an open area in Peshawar, Pakistan. [Muhammad Sajjad/AP Photo]

Children play during Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim festival marking the end the holy fasting month of Ramadan, at a mosque, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Kabul, Afghanistan May 24, — Children play outside a mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan. [Mohammad Ismail/Reuters]

A view of the Lakemba mosque, usually packed with hundreds of Muslim worshippers, during the Eid al-Fitr prayer in western Sydney on May 24, 2020. - Lakemba mosque this year organised live streaming o — In the Australian city of Sydney, Lakemba mosque organised live streaming of the Eid al-Fitr prayer and sermon on Facebook to ensure community safety. [Saeed Khan/AFP]

Muslim men wearing face masks and sitting apart to practice social distancing pray in the grounds of Yakaniah mosque on the first day of the Eid al-Fitr holiday which marks the end of the Muslim holy — Men wearing face masks practice physical distancing during prayer on the grounds of Yakaniah mosque in Thailand's southern province of Narathiwat. [Madaree Tohlala/AFP]

Migrant people are seen on board of an overcrowded ferry, as they go home to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Munshiganj, Bangladesh, May 23, 2 — Migrant workers in Munshiganj, Bangladesh, board an overcrowded ferry as they go home to celebrate Eid al-Fitr. [Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters]

Muslims attend Eid-al-Fitr prayer marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Adjame, a neighbourhood of Abidjan, Ivory Coast May 23, — Muslims in Adjame, a neighbourhood of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, attend prayers marking the end of Ramadan. [Thierry Gouegnon/Reuters]

Egyptians perform Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, on the roof of thier house, after mosques were shut amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus disea — People in Egypt's capital, Cairo, perform Eid al-Fitr prayers on the roof of their house, after mosques were shut amid concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus. [Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters]

Kashmiri Muslims pray in the garden of a house while celebrating Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim festival marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVI — People in Srinagar, in Indian-administered Kashmir, pray in the garden of a house while celebrating Eid. [Danish Ismail/Reuters]

Muslim men perform an Eid al-Fitr prayer despite concerns of the new coronavirus outbreak, at a mosque in Lhokseumawe in the deeply conservative Aceh province, Indonesia, Sunday, May 24, 2020. Million — Prayers at a mosque in Lhokseumawe, in Indonesia's Aceh province. [Zik Maulana/AP Photo]

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