NEW DELHI, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The Muslim holy month of fasting, or Ramadan, has begun across India Thursday.

The formal announcements regarding the sighting of crescent and beginning of Ramadan were made by grand jurists in almost all the states of India on Wednesday late evening.

Following the announcements practising Muslims thronged mosques in their neighborhood to offer special night prayers called Tarawih, a session for Qur'an-reading and prayer.

The special prayers will continue throughout the month.

For one month devout Muslims all over the world, abstain from eating, drinking and engaging in their marital obligation from dawn until sunset. After dusk, Muslims break their fast by drinking water and sharing meal, often with family and friends.

Ramadan is the ninth month of Islamic calendar and would end with the festival of Eid al-Fitr (Muslim holy festival).

This year Saudi Arabia and the countries in the Middle East also began their fasting on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the Indian government announced a conditional unilateral cease-fire for the month of Ramadan in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir.