Ramadan - Shahedha Khanum's diary

By Kelly Stooke
BBC Wiltshire

Eid is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of the Ramadan period

The Islamic religious festival known as Ramadan finally came to an end on Saturday 19 September.

It involved people fasting for one month from dawn until sunset.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and during this period Muslims are celebrating the time when the verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

Eid ul-Fitr, which is often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of the Ramadan period.

Eid is an Arabic word which means 'festivity' and Fitr means 'to break fast'.

The holiday symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period and it's celebrated after the end of Ramadan, on the first day of Shawwal.

Eid ul-Fitr lasts for three days of celebration and Muslims are commanded by the Quran to complete their fast on the last day of Ramadan and then recite the Takbir all throughout the period of Eid.

To find out what it must be like to come to an end of this fasting experience, BBC Wiltshire asked 22-year-old Shahedha Khanum from Swindon to record an audio diary for us.

Talking about Eid, Shahedha said: "It was really fun, we had a lot of people that came round our house.

"We got a chance to go round my uncle's house in the evening so it was a bit of a late night but we all enjoyed ourselves and had lots of food to eat!

"I did feel a little bit sick during the day though, but today I feel better. So it's just a matter of getting back to the routine now. It's strange not fasting but it's been a good month."

She continued: "I think at the beginning of this month it was quite difficult due to not having enough water but as the days have progressed, it's been a lot easier to get used to.

"It actually feels quite sad that it's finishing so soon."

Certain people are exempt from taking part in the Ramadan fast. These include children, the sick, the elderly, the mentally handicapped and anyone who would be putting their health at serious risk by doing it.

Hear Part One of Shahedha's audio diary - at the start of Ramadan - via the link below.

Ramadan begins - Shahedha Khanum's diary