A girl looks on as people pray in the open area of a mosque on the first day of Eid al-fitr in Cairo September 20, 2009. Eid al-fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset. [Agencies]

Pakistan

Thousands of people in the capital of Islamabad flocked to the main bazaars to eat, shop and celebrate.

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari reminded people in a statement to remember those during Eid who sacrificed themselves for peace.

"Amidst Eid celebrations this year, let us not forget those members of our armed forces, the police, the law enforcing agencies and civilians who laid down their lives in the fight against militants so that we may truly celebrate this Eid in peace," Zardari said, referring to Pakistan's gains in recent months against a homegrown Taliban insurgency.

Afghanistan

In the capital Kabul, children dressed in their finest clothes for the celebration, as families posed for formal photos against the backdrop of the mountains that surround the Afghan capital.

Despite a recent increase in violence in Kabul, the city was crowded and festive, its markets were full and many of the streets were jammed with cars filled with people on their way to and from holiday meals.

Sudan

The start of the feast is marked by massive outdoor worship services at local mosques. Many then spend the afternoon and evening visiting family, friends and neighbors. Those with recent deaths in the family get special attention in hopes the celebrations will distract them from mourning. In cities, families also head to public gardens for picnics while kids run around with newly purchased toy guns and shoot at each other.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir called for the country's numerous armed movements to lay down their arms and engage in dialogue rather than violence to solve their differences.

Yemen

Eid came at a time of great suffering here from the economic crisis, war in the north and instability in the south.

In northern Saada province along the Saudi border, thousands of civilians have fled fighting between Shiite rebels and the government and most children did not receive traditional gifts of money or new clothes. The province's biggest and oldest mosque was empty this year instead of being filled during the dawn prayers as in the past.