With the sighting of the Ramadan moon on Saturday, the Muslim community in the city will observe the month-long dawn-to-dusk fasts that culminate with the sighting of the Eid moon.
The sighting of the moon resulted in congratulatory notes and messages between community members, who later downed shutters of their establishments to participate in Taraweeh prayers that continue late into the night.
The month of Ramadan, the ninth on the Islamic calendar, is a period for reflection, devotion, and compassion towards the less fortunate.
Leaders of the Muslim community, including Shahr Qazi Syed Mushtaq Ali Nadvi, Naib Qazi Ali Qadr Hussaini, and others, have extended congratulations while urging community members to spend the holy month dedicating themselves to devotion and piety.
Meanwhile, the Dawoodi Bohra community observed the second fast of the month, which they observe in accordance with the teachings of their spiritual leader.
A large contingent of Bohra Muslims participated in prayers at the community mosque in the Malipura area of the old city.
Security measures are in place as picketing and patrolling remain heightened to maintain peace in sensitive neighbourhoods across the state capital.
Markets in the old city wore a festive look as large crowds of shoppers spent the day buying clothes, groceries, fruits, and other essentials for the Ramadan season.
Several political leaders too have issued congratulatory messages and extended best wishes to citizens while highlighting the benefits that the holy month brings for the poor and the dispossessed.
The Hanafi sect of Indian Muslims believes that money spent on charity or for their families and themselves comes back to them manifold over the next year.