Sep 10 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Muslims in America have been urged to observe this year’s Eid al-Fitr in solemn mood. Eid al-Fitr or the “Feast of the Breaking of the Fast” is used by Muslims to mark the end of fasting in the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the month Muslims abstain from food and pray to Allah.

The period of Eid al Fitr is marked by lively celebrations in America but this year, the period fell close to the anniversary of the September 11 attacks and Muslim leaders in America says they have not planned any ceremony for the occasion and they have also called on their fellow Muslims to serve.

Over 700 Muslims in Michigan are planning to use the occasion to clean the city’s car parks. Other Muslim groups throughout the United States are taking part in the volunteer program. The volunteer program is part of a nationwide drive called MuslimServe, which is aimed at getting Muslims to volunteer for America.

President Barack Obama has called on Americans to use the anniversary of September 11 to mark an annual Day of Service and Remembrance for those that died in the terrorists attack that day.

However celebrations in other part of the world may not be that solemn. In Indonesia, sales of Islamic clothes have already gone up by 20 to 30 percent in this Eid al-Fitr. The country is the world’s most populous Islamic nation.