From correspondents in Kerala, India, 10:30 PM IST

Muslim clerics Sunday declared that the Islamic holy month of fasting, Ramadan, would begin from Monday in Kerala.

Supreme leader of the Indian Union Muslim League Pannakad Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal and other religious leaders made the announcement after citing crescent at Ponanni in Malappuram district late Sunday evening.

Muslims in Kerala constitute roughly 24 percent of the 320 million population of the state.

Ramadan, during which Muslims abstain food, eating anything and even drinking water, from dawn to dusk is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr - which marks the first day of the next month, Shawal.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)