Members of Canberra's Islamic community continued celebrations marking the end of Ramadan on Sunday, with Eid al-Fitr events held at the Canberra Mosque and at Exhibition Park.
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The Islamic Society of the ACT hosted celebrations in Yarralumla, matching events around Australia and the world as Muslims end their annual month-long period of going without food and drink from before daybreak to sunset each day.
At Exhibition Park's Coorong Pavilion, hundreds of families enjoyed rides and amusements, food from around the world, henna hand painting, face painting, show bags, stalls selling crafts and gifts, as well as live performances and animal rides.
Islamic Society of the ACT president, Abdul Hakim, welcomed hundreds of people to a crowded Canberra Mosque, including Queanbeyan sisters Zainab Adnan, 8, and Areeba Gillani, 5 who joined the event with their parents.
Eid al-Fitr - translated as the festival of breaking the fast - sees Islamic community events, traditional prayers, visiting with family and friends and exchanges of the holiday greeting, 'Eid Mubarak!'.
Fasting is one of the five pillars of the Muslim religion, along with charity, prayer, believing in one God and a pilgrimage to Mecca for anyone who is able.
Last week's release of 2016 census data showed 9864 people in Canberra identified as Muslim last year.
Nationally, 2.6 per cent of Australians said they were followers of Islam, an increase from 2011 when Muslims made up 2.2 per cent of the population.
The figure compares with 52.1 per cent of Australians who identify as Christian in 2016, 2.4 per cent who identified as Buddhist, 1.9 per cent as Hindu, 0.5 per cent as Sikh and 0.4 per cent who identified as Jewish.
People identifying no religious affiliation made up 30.1 per cent of Australians, up from less than 1 per cent 50 years ago.
Muslims go without food, drink, and sexual relations from before daybreak to sunset during Ramadan, while special rules allow pregnant women and those who are sick, elderly, or travelling to make up an equal number of days at another time of year.
The fasting period is considered a method of self purification and a way for Muslims to gain true sympathy for those who go hungry. Religious fasting is also considered to bring a range of health benefits.
