PICTURES: Eid al-Fitr 2019 Celebrated Around The World

NEW DELHI: Muslims across the world began marking the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr, one of the most celebrated holidays for the world's 1.5 billion Muslims and traditionally a time for family and festivities./ IMAGE: Sri Lanka/ (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP)

But the start of the holiday varies from country to country with splits even within the same country because the start of Eid is traditionally based on sightings of the new moon./ IMAGE: India (Photo by TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP)

In Afghanistan, Shiites were told by clerics that the moon was not seen so Ramadan would not begin for them until Wednesday. Sunnis however are celebrating Tuesday. The Taliban, which are Sunni extremists, have said there will be no end to fighting while US and NATO troops are still in Afghanistan. IMAGE: India (Photo by Pawan Sharma / AFP)

Pakistan, which is mostly Sunni, traditionally celebrates a day after most of the Muslim world. Pakistan is also split within the country along geographical lines, with residents of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province, located on the border with Afghanistan and dominated by ethnic Pashtuns, celebrating Eid on Tuesday. The new moon was apparently spotted in North Waziristan, while the rest of Pakistan will celebrate on Wednesday.IMAGE: France (Photo by Richard BOUHET / AFP)

The holiday traditionally lasts one to three days and is eagerly anticipated after the month of fasting. During Ramadan, the faithful refrain from eating, drinking, smoking or sexual activity from dawn to dusk./ IMAGE: India (Photo by NARINDER NANU / AFP)

The holiday marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, when devout Muslims have been fasting from sunrise to sunset./ IMAGE: Egypt (Photo by Mohamed el-Shahed / AFP)

Muslim Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia, as well as Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, started celebrating on Tuesday, whereas Egypt, Syria, Jordan, the Palestinian territories and others said the Shawwal crescent moon was not visible across the country and won't start till Wednesday. IMAGE: Iraq (Photo by Haidar HAMDANI / AFP)

Mosques hold special prayers at sunrise, and children are often given gifts or a special allowance. IMAGE: Myanmar (Photo by Sai Aung MAIN / AFP)

Most businesses close during Eid, as people dress up and visited relatives, enjoying their first daytime meals in a lunar month. / IMAGE: Oman (Photo by MOHAMMED MAHJOUB / AFP)

In Lebanon and Iraq, Sunnis began celebrating on Tuesday whereas Shiites will celebrate on Wednesday./ IMAGE: Turkey (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP)