Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, August 3 / Trend H. Hasanov /
August 8, 2013 was declared as a day-off in accordance with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's decree on "Celebration of Oraza Bayram (Ramadan)".
According to the decree, Oraza Bayram is celebrated to further strengthen the consolidation, unity and solidarity of the native people in the era of power and happiness, to observe the age-old customs and traditions of the Turkmen people and to preserve the spiritual heritage.
The Prophet Muhammad's followers believe that the observance of fasting during a month of Ramadan positively affects the souls. Believers give voluntary (sadaqah) and obligatory (zakat) charity during this month.