Beginning of Ramadan in Jerusalem
Muslims attend the lighting of giant lanterns in Jerusalem
Hundreds of Muslim worshippers gathered in Jerusalem's Old City on Monday evening to witness the lighting of a giant lantern as part of the cultural events marking the month of Ramadan.
Beating drums and chanting, worshippers made their way through the narrow streets of the Old City to a square where a large crowd waited for the giant lantern to be lit.
The crowd erupted in applause when the lantern was lit.
Ramadan is a month of dawn-to-dusk fasting, prayer and religious devotion for hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world.
In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Ramadan has often been a time of increased friction and confrontation.
