Ramadan is the Holy Month when Muslims fast between dawn and dusk. It is a month for contemplation and reflection and to undertake charitable donations and works. Ramadan starts with the sighting of a crescent shaped moon and ends with a similar sighting. Moon sighting committees determine when the month starts and ends and hence exact dates cannot be determined beforehand.
In 2012, Ramadan begins around July 20th and will last for approximately 29/30 days. When Ramadan comes to an end, you enter the festival of Eid Al Fitr – a three-day celebration of family life.