Preparations for Ramadan around the world - in pictures

Indonesian Muslim children carry torches during a parade to welcome the fasting month of Ramadan in Gresik, East Java, Indonesia. Fully Handoko / EPA

A man takes photographs of his children ahead of Ramadan in Beirut, Lebanon. Jamal Saidi / Reuters

Syrians shop in a market ahead of the month of Ramadan, in Damascus, Syria. Muslims throughout the world will begin to mark Ramadan this week. Youssef Badawi / EPA

Syrians shop in a market ahead of the month of Ramadan, in Damascus, Syria. Muslims throughout the world will begin to mark Ramadan this week. Youssef Badawi / EPA

Syrians shop in a market ahead of the month of Ramadan, in Damascus, Syria. Muslims throughout the world will begin to mark Ramadan this week. Youssef Badawi / EPA

A man and children play traditional drums as they take part in the Musahharati, a Ramadan tradition where drummers wake people for the meal before the day’s fast, in Beirut, Lebanon. Jamal Saidi / Reuters

A large lantern is lit in front of al Amin mosque as part of decorations ahead of Ramadan in Beirut, Lebanon. Jamal Saidi / Reuters

People walk through a cemetery while visiting the graves of loved ones ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Jakarta, Indonesia. Antara Foto / Yudhi Mahatma / via Reuters

Pakistani men display prayer mats at a shop, ahead of the month of Ramadan, in Peshawar, Pakistan. Bilawal Arbab / EPA

A Pakistani man tries on a new prayer cap, ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, in Peshawar, Pakistan. Bilawal Arbab / EPA

Lebanese Muslim girls pose for a picture for Ramadan in the southern port city of Sidon, as they take part in a traditional festival ahead of the start of the holy fasting month. Mahmoud Zayyat / AFP

A vendor sells prayer beads on a roadside, ahead of the month of Ramadan, in Peshawar, Pakistan. Bilawal Arbab / EPA

An Afghan labourer carries sweets at a factory ahead of the holy month of Ramadan in Jalalabad. Islam’s holy month of Ramadan, which is calculated on the sighting of the new moon, could begin on June 7 in Afghanistan. Noorullah Shirzada / AFP

Muslims around the world prepared for the holy month of Ramadan, which is expected to begin in the UAE on Monday.