Muslims will soon celebrate Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of Ramadan – during which Muslims have fasted from sunrise to sundown for a month.

To celebrate the completion of the fast there will be festivities lasting up to three days where worshippers can gather, eat and exchange gifts.

The date of Eid al-Fitr is dictated by the sighting of the moon.

According to the latest moon sighting calculations Eid al-Fitr (also known as “Smaller” Eid) will be celebrated on Monday 2 May.

This is the forecast followed by Saudi Arabia’s Umm al-Qura Calendar and would mean this year’s Ramadan lasts for 30 days. However, it can sometimes last 29 days.

Eid al-Fitr begins the day after the sighting of the new crescent moon which marks the end of Ramadan and the onset of the month of Shawwal, which falls on the 10th of the Islamic Hijri calendar.

There are two Eids in the Islamic calendar a year: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha later in the year.

Eid al-Adha is the “feast of the sacrifice.” It comes at the end of the Hajj, which is an annual pilgrimage by millions of Muslims to Mecca in Saudi Arabia and lasts four days.

The celebrations start with prayers at dawn and these usually take place at a mosque.

The day is heavily focused on family and friends and Muslims are encouraged to forgive and seek forgiveness. The graves of relatives are also visited.

People greet each other with “Eid Mubarak,” meaning “Blessed Eid”.

Gifts are given to children and those in need. Often money, flowers and practical items can be given. People also donate to charity.

And while practices can vary depending on the country, in some parts of the world Muslims deck their homes with lanterns, lights or flowers.

Usually, new outfits are worn during the festivities but these can vary. Traditionally men may wear kurta pyjama or a long tunic with trousers and women are likely to dress in full-length modest clothing that may be brightly coloured and beaded.

Eid al-Fitr has its own special salat (Islamic prayer) designed to be performed in a congregation.

It consists of two rakats (units) which are often performed in an open space (weather permitting) or a large hall.

It features six additional Takbirs (the raising of the hands to the ears while saying “Allāhu Akbar”, which means “God is the greatest”) in the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam – three at the start of the first rakat and three before rukūʿ(either the act of bowing or reciting a Surah or paragraph of the Qur’an) in the second rakat.

Other Sunni schools have 12 Takbirs, split into groups of seven and five.

In Shia Islam, the salat has six Takbirs in the first rakat at the end of qira’a (the readings or recitations) before rukū, and five in the second. Depending on the local juristic decision, this salat is either farḍ (obligatory), mustaḥabb (strongly recommended) or mandūb (preferable). After the salat, the Eid celebrations can begin.

Many of the savoury dishes eaten during the celebrations contain lamb and mutton.

But the holiday also has the nickname “Sweet Eid” or “Sugar Feast” reflecting the dishes enjoyed.

Some of the sweets may include:

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