Nursultan Nazarbayev congratulated Kazakh citizens on beginning of Ramadan

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev congratulated Kazakh citizens on the beginning of Ramadan, according to Akorda official website . “Head of the state congratulated the citizens of Kazakhstan of the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan and wish all the Kazakhs peace and accord and well-being in every family,” the press-service’s message says. The Muslim fasting month of Ramadan has begun on Monday, August 1. The exact dates of the start and the end of Ramadan depend on the sighting of the new moon as many Muslim countries reject using astronomical calculation for the Muslim lunar calendar. Muslims observe the ninth month of the lunar Islamic calendar when Archangel Gabriel revealed the Koran -- Islam's holy book -- to the Prophet Mohammed. Throughout the month devout Muslims must abstain from food, drink and sex from dawn until sunset when they break the fast with the Iftar meal. The fast is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the annual pilgrimage to Mecca which able Muslims should do once in a lifetime.