A mother washes her daughter's hair with rice straw ashes in Pabuaran, Central Java, one day before Ramadan. It is a tradition said to cleanse heart and mind. [Andhika Bhakti/Khabar]

Children in Pacitan, East Java play kenthongan thek-thek, an ensemble of traditional bamboo instruments, before dawn on July 12th. During Ramadan, children march around villages calling citizens to eat their final meal before dawn. [Yenny Herawati/Khabar]

Children in Subang, West Java awaken Muslims for the pre-dawn meal with a torch-light parade. Non-Muslims also participate in the event. [Andhika Bhakti/Khabar]

Santriwati (with microphone) and other children from Bahrussyifa Pesantren in Lumajang, East Java, take turns reading the Qur'an at a July 17th community event as they wait to break their fast. [Yenny Herawati /Khabar].

An Acehnese woman gives money to a handicapped man July 20th in front of Baiturrahman Mosque in Banda Aceh. Islam teaches its followers to help others, especially the less fortunate – and especially during Ramadan. [Nurdin Hasan/Khabar]

In Selangor, Malaysia, painter Basuki Johari gives children a drawing lesson, providing positive activities while the community is fasting. [Samuel Bahari/Khabar]

The biking community in Banyumas, Central Java, convoys together on July 20th to enliven the month of Ramadan. [Yenny Herawati/Khabar]

Community musicians in Menteng, Central Jakarta, play at Suropati Park on July 21st. The entire community – famous for its religious and ethnic diversity – enjoys the event together, as Muslims wait to break their fast. [Arsyadani/Khabar]

People in Klaten, Central Java, bring baskets of food to city hall for a special ritual meal or Selamatan on July 17th. The event brings everyone together to express Islam's teachings of peace, harmony, love, and respect. [Okky Feliantiar/Khabar]

Men prepare sugar cane juice in Taman Hussein Onn, Cheras in Selangor, Malaysia. Sugar cane juice is a popular choice for Muslims to break their fast together with family and friends. [Samuel Bahari/Khabar]

Acehnese buy es campur – a mixture of coconut, brown sugar, and rice pudding – at the Ulee Kareng roadside market on the outskirts of Banda Aceh on July 21st. The sweet concoction is commonly served as an appetizer to break the fast. [Nurdin Hasan/Khabar]

A volunteer with a Christian student association (PPM) visits the Muhammadiyah orphanage in Madiun, East Java, with gifts and food to help students there break their fast on July 17th. The PPM and orphans then break the fast together. [Yenny Herawati/Khabar]

Muslims wait for the Magrib prayer call, when they are allowed to break the fast during Ramadan, in Jakarta's Cut Meutia Mosque. The mosque offers a glass of mineral water and a package of three dates, the manner Prophet Muhammad used in breaking the fast. [Zahara Tiba/Khabar]

People break their fast at Manahan Christian Church (Gereja Kristen Jawa/GKJ) in Solo, Central Java. During Ramadan, the church offers 200-300 packaged meals daily to people in need, at low prices – Rp 500 (less than ten cents) per serving. [Okky Feliantiar/Khabar]

Jakarta's Cut Meutia Mosque is bathed in coloured lights during its annual Ramadan Jazz Festival, July 19th to 20th. The event draws the faithful to pray, break their fast, and enjoy a musical evening together. [Zahara Tiba/Khabar]