Middle Eastern cuisine becomes a banquet, with exchanges of invitations between kin and friends, and public banquets held by charities and associations. Cafes and pastry shops are open at night, and a carnival atmosphere prevails in the streets. Many Muslims, following the reported example of Muhammad, break their fast with a date, followed by a variety of dishes. Sweet pastries and puddings are always present on Ramadan nights everywhere. The end of Ramadan is marked by a festival, Id 'al-Fitr, a feast that breaks the fast, during which a great quantity and variety of sweets and pastries are consumed. The other major Muslim
Sarajevo Ramadan Festival The festival lasts for the length of Ramadan and is composed of numerous programmes that are held all over the city. Open-air Iftar, the evening meal with which Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset, open to Muslims and non-Muslims alike, is organized every evening in the Žuta Tabija fortress that overlooks the city. Exhibitions of Islamic art, including calligrophy, paintings, pottery and marquetry are held in the Gazi Husrev-beg Library which also hosts readings of renowned Islamic poetry. A trade fair of book publishers on Islamic art is another of the numerous festival programmes. Interactive lectures, pannel discussions