Balloons, body paint, joy and mourning — across the world Sunday, Muslims gathered to celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan, and the festivities took nearly as many shapes as the places they were held.
Now, not every Muslim opened the Eid al-Fitr holiday Sunday. Because it relies on a lunar calendar, the festival marking the start of the new month depends on a sighting of the moon, which can vary from place to place. In Pakistan, for instance, worshipers are to wait until Monday for their celebrations.
But much of the world had no such wait.
In countries on just about every continent, Muslims gathered for prayer, reflection and a joyous conclusion to the fasting month of Ramadan. Just in case you can’t make it to these dozens of countries yourself Sunday, here’s a glimpse of the festivities.
Egypt
Egyptians gather on a city street in Cairo to pray beneath bunches of balloons. Samer Abdullah/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption
Samer Abdullah/AFP/Getty Images
Egyptians gather on a city street in Cairo to pray beneath bunches of balloons.
Samer Abdullah/AFP/Getty Images
Romania
A child stands among the people taking part in Eid al-Fitr prayers in Bucharest, Romania. Members of the country’s Muslim community gathered at the massive Dinamo soccer stadium in the Romanian capital. Vadim Ghirda/AP hide caption
toggle caption
Vadim Ghirda/AP
A child stands among the people taking part in Eid al-Fitr prayers in Bucharest, Romania. Members of the country’s Muslim community gathered at the massive Dinamo soccer stadium in the Romanian capital.
Vadim Ghirda/AP
Ivory Coast
A man painted with the phrase “Happy Ramadan” in French dances through the streets of Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Sia Kambou/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption
Sia Kambou/AFP/Getty Images
A man painted with the phrase “Happy Ramadan” in French dances through the streets of Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Sia Kambou/AFP/Getty Images
Iraq
An Iraqi family who fled the fighting in Mosul walk through a camp for displaced people, south of the embattled city. For many Iraqis, especially those from war-torn Mosul, Eid al-Fitr would have to be celebrated far from home. Mohamed el-Shahed/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption
Mohamed el-Shahed/AFP/Getty Images
An Iraqi family who fled the fighting in Mosul walk through a camp for displaced people, south of the embattled city. For many Iraqis, especially those from war-torn Mosul, Eid al-Fitr would have to be celebrated far from home.
Mohamed el-Shahed/AFP/Getty Images
Yemen
A Yemeni man bearing a gun walks through a cemetery after prayers in the country’s capital, Sanaa. For more than two years, Yemen has been ravaged by civil war, and now the country is also facing the “worst cholera outbreak in the world,” world health authorities say. Mohammed Huwais/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption
Mohammed Huwais/AFP/Getty Images
A Yemeni man bearing a gun walks through a cemetery after prayers in the country’s capital, Sanaa. For more than two years, Yemen has been ravaged by civil war, and now the country is also facing the “worst cholera outbreak in the world,” world health authorities say.
Mohammed Huwais/AFP/Getty Images
Indonesia
Young men wash up before performing their Eid al-Fitr prayer at a mosque near Mount Sinabung, an active volcano in Indonesia. Binsar Bakkara/AP hide caption
toggle caption
Binsar Bakkara/AP
Young men wash up before performing their Eid al-Fitr prayer at a mosque near Mount Sinabung, an active volcano in Indonesia.
Binsar Bakkara/AP
Old City of Jerusalem
A Palestinian woman holds onto some balloons before the morning Eid al-Fitr prayer near the Dome of Rock in Jerusalem. Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption
Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images
A Palestinian woman holds onto some balloons before the morning Eid al-Fitr prayer near the Dome of Rock in Jerusalem.
Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images
Nigeria
Young men offer Eid al-Fitr prayers outdoors in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city. Sunday Alamba/AP hide caption
toggle caption
Sunday Alamba/AP
Young men offer Eid al-Fitr prayers outdoors in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city.
Sunday Alamba/AP
The U.S.
Aya Attal, 17, hugs a friend at an Eid al-Fitr celebration in a park in Pittsburgh, Pa. Justin Merriman/Getty Images hide caption
toggle caption
Justin Merriman/Getty Images
Aya Attal, 17, hugs a friend at an Eid al-Fitr celebration in a park in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Justin Merriman/Getty Images
