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Photos: The world greets an unprecedented Ramzan in lockdown

In the holy month of Ramzan, community spirit comes out the best. The believers fast during daylight hours, pray in congregation and share meals as they sit down at dusk to break the fast. However, with strict lockdowns and physical distancing directives enforced to check the spread of highly contagious COVID-19 disease, many of the rituals and observances will be curtailed this year, if not entirely skipped. From cancelled public iftars to suspended mosque prayers, Muslims across the world are bracing for an unusual month of fasting.

Updated on: Apr 24, 2020 3:23 PM IST

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A view of a dried fruit merchant’s shop as people shop for supplies before the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramzan, in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip on April 22. Believers fast from dawn to dusk and then gather around a family or community meal each evening of Islam’s holiest month. (Said Khatib / AFP)

Updated on Apr 24, 2020 3:23 PM

A view of a dried fruit merchant’s shop as people shop for supplies before the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramzan, in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip on April 22. Believers fast from dawn to dusk and then gather around a family or community meal each evening of Islam’s holiest month. (Said Khatib / AFP)

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A Sunni Muslim cleric wearing a face mask uses a telescope to scan for the crescent moon, which if sighted would mark the beginning of the month of Ramzan, at the Abu al-Hanifa al-Numan mosque in Iraq's capital Baghdad on April 22. Muslims globally are bracing for a bleak month of Ramzan fasting as the threat of COVID-19 lingers. (Ahmad Al-Rubaye / AFP)

Updated on Apr 24, 2020 3:23 PM

A Sunni Muslim cleric wearing a face mask uses a telescope to scan for the crescent moon, which if sighted would mark the beginning of the month of Ramzan, at the Abu al-Hanifa al-Numan mosque in Iraq's capital Baghdad on April 22. Muslims globally are bracing for a bleak month of Ramzan fasting as the threat of COVID-19 lingers. (Ahmad Al-Rubaye / AFP)

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A worker (C) sprays disinfectant at a mosque ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramzan during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Karachi, Pakistan on April 22. (Rizwan Tabassum / AFP)

Updated on Apr 24, 2020 3:23 PM

A worker (C) sprays disinfectant at a mosque ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramzan during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown against the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Karachi, Pakistan on April 22. (Rizwan Tabassum / AFP)

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A young Palestinian seller showcases Chinese-made “fanous” lanterns, used to celebrate the start of Ramzan, at a stall in Khan Yunis. (Said Khatib / AFP)

Updated on Apr 24, 2020 3:23 PM

A young Palestinian seller showcases Chinese-made “fanous” lanterns, used to celebrate the start of Ramzan, at a stall in Khan Yunis. (Said Khatib / AFP)

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Images of health workers combating the COVID-19 coronavirus are projected by the CCBI Islamic Cultural Center on the roof of the Omar Ibn Al-Khattab mosque in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil on April 23. The projection was to show support for Foz do iguacu workers on the eve of Ramzan --a month also associated with reflection. (Christian Rizzi / AFP)

Updated on Apr 24, 2020 3:23 PM

Images of health workers combating the COVID-19 coronavirus are projected by the CCBI Islamic Cultural Center on the roof of the Omar Ibn Al-Khattab mosque in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil on April 23. The projection was to show support for Foz do iguacu workers on the eve of Ramzan --a month also associated with reflection. (Christian Rizzi / AFP)

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A notice informs the closure of a mosque due to coronavirus on the first day of Ramzan in Sydney, Australia on April 24. Authorities in large parts of the world have continued lockdowns that prevent group gatherings and prayers in mosques keeping in mind the risk of contagion. (Saeed Khan / AFP)

Updated on Apr 24, 2020 3:23 PM

A notice informs the closure of a mosque due to coronavirus on the first day of Ramzan in Sydney, Australia on April 24. Authorities in large parts of the world have continued lockdowns that prevent group gatherings and prayers in mosques keeping in mind the risk of contagion. (Saeed Khan / AFP)

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Palestinian Musharatis call for Muslims to wake up to have the pre-dawn ‘suhoor’ meal before they start their fast, on the first day of Ramzan, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on April 24. (Ibraheem Abu Mustafa / REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 24, 2020 3:23 PM

Palestinian Musharatis call for Muslims to wake up to have the pre-dawn ‘suhoor’ meal before they start their fast, on the first day of Ramzan, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on April 24. (Ibraheem Abu Mustafa / REUTERS)

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Police and paramilitary personnel keep vigil near the Jama Masjid during lockdown, ahead of Ramzan in New Delhi on April 23. The pandemic has put a damper on spirits as festivities, late-night bazaars filled with people and treats remain banned this time around. (Biplov Bhuyan /HT Photo)

Updated on Apr 24, 2020 3:23 PM

Police and paramilitary personnel keep vigil near the Jama Masjid during lockdown, ahead of Ramzan in New Delhi on April 23. The pandemic has put a damper on spirits as festivities, late-night bazaars filled with people and treats remain banned this time around. (Biplov Bhuyan /HT Photo)

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A Palestinian woman lightly roasts wheat harvested before maturity (freekeh) in Khan Yunis on April 22, before being prepared to be used in a soup during Ramzan. The congregational ‘iftar’ meal at dusk --a centrepiece of Ramzan-- will be observed as a cloistered affair among families and individuals this year. (Said Khatib / AFP)

Updated on Apr 24, 2020 3:23 PM

A Palestinian woman lightly roasts wheat harvested before maturity (freekeh) in Khan Yunis on April 22, before being prepared to be used in a soup during Ramzan. The congregational ‘iftar’ meal at dusk --a centrepiece of Ramzan-- will be observed as a cloistered affair among families and individuals this year. (Said Khatib / AFP)

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Egyptian youth decorate their residential street in preparation Ramzan in Cairo’s Hadayek el-Maadi district, on April 21. (Khaled Desouki / AFP)

Updated on Apr 24, 2020 3:23 PM

Egyptian youth decorate their residential street in preparation Ramzan in Cairo’s Hadayek el-Maadi district, on April 21. (Khaled Desouki / AFP)

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A man places stickers of feet silhouettes on the floor of a mosque to maintain social distance during gatherings during Ramzan in Karachi on April 23. The restrictions on gatherings and observances have also garnered pushback from clerics viewing them as attempts to shrink the number of people going to mosques. (Asif Hassan / AFP)

Updated on Apr 24, 2020 3:23 PM

A man places stickers of feet silhouettes on the floor of a mosque to maintain social distance during gatherings during Ramzan in Karachi on April 23. The restrictions on gatherings and observances have also garnered pushback from clerics viewing them as attempts to shrink the number of people going to mosques. (Asif Hassan / AFP)

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Volunteers disinfects the historical Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan, on April 22, 2020. Irrespective of the nature of restrictions in their part of the world, Muslims all around are trying to work out how to maintain the many cherished rituals of this holiest of months. (K.M Chudhry / AP)

Updated on Apr 24, 2020 3:23 PM

Volunteers disinfects the historical Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan, on April 22, 2020. Irrespective of the nature of restrictions in their part of the world, Muslims all around are trying to work out how to maintain the many cherished rituals of this holiest of months. (K.M Chudhry / AP)

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