Muslims are set to welcome the holy month of Ramazan—the most sacred time of the year in Islamic culture.

Observed worldwide as a month of fasting and prayer, Ramazan has also been for countries by a unique set of traditions.

From colorful torchlight street parades to cleaning relatives’ graves and unique meals shared with family and friends, every country has its own way of observing Ramazan.

Here are a few cherished Ramazan rituals.

Pakistan

The Roza Khushai (children who fast for the first time) stand out in the world. Families usually arrange large gatherings on the occasion.

Moreover, people in most parts of the country play games which include Ramazan cricket tournaments (mostly in Karachi), while people in Peshawar engage in egg fighting. The game involves using a brightly coloured boiled egg to crack your opponent’s egg and has been played for generations in Pakistan.

Turkiye

People in Turkiye welcome Ramazan by spraying air fresheners of musk and rose water in their homes as soon as the crescent moon is sighted.

Indonesia

Indonesia has more than one unique tradition to welcome the holy month. For starters, schools and universities are closed for a week until they are used to fasting.

Hundreds of residents in Tangerang, a city just outside Jakarta, flock to the Cisadane River to bathe in a tradition that involves washing one’s hair with rice straw shampoo to welcome Ramazan with a symbolic spiritual cleansing.

Moreover, the traditional drums, called “Al-Budok”, are danced to in order to celebrate the coming of the month.

Sudan

The people in Sudan have their own way of celebrating Ramazan as they get in the way of travellers. This is practiced throughout the country and has now become a cultural heritage.

According to the ritual, as soon as the time of iftar approaches, Sudanese people block important highways, including roads, not to rob people, but for people to break their fast with them.

Nigeria

Nigeria has one of the best and the simplest tradition being followed for ages, where rich families daily host the poor over iftar.

Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, coffee shops and restaurants are closed until iftar, while some of them open temporarily to serve food and drinks near mosques which they called “Dekak” during Ramazan. Moreover, people also decorate their houses.

Russia

In Moscow, the Ramadan tent is considered an important event and an authentic Ramadan habit, which can occupy over 600 people at once.

For iftar, kafas, a traditional drink, is preferred in Ramazan, while, the Muslims in Tatarstan, who are unable to fast can donate RUB 100 for every day they don’t fast.

Kazakhstan

The Hazrat Sultan Mosque, which can accommodate up to 10,000 worshipers, is the centre of the stage during Ramazan. The iftar in the mosque is often attended by the head of state.

The people there break their fast by drinking camel or horse milk and their famous dish in Ramazan is mutton with rice and nuts.

Moreover, Expats return to the country to spend the month with their families. They also sacrifice cattle.

Bangladesh

People in Bangladesh mark the start of the holy month by buying religious books. A huge book fair is held at the beginning of the month and continues until the end of Ramazan.

Chechnya

Children whose birth coincides with the holy month are named “Ramazan” for boys and “Marha” for girls.