New Delhi, March 20 -- It might seem a strange thing for a practicing Muslim to say, but Kholoud Khardoum, a 53-year-old living in Iraq, is clear. "Not all of Ramadan is necessarily about religion," the Baghdad-based writer said. "It's also about the atmosphere and the tradition of people coming together." (Also Read | Ramadan 2024: Why Muslims break their fast with dates? Here's all that you need to know)

Iraq is a Muslim-majority country, but in areas where different religious communities live together, you'll often find non-Muslims participating in celebrations around the month-long Muslim holiday of Ramadan, she told DW. In particular, "Iftar," the sunset meal where friends and family come together to break the daily fast, can be a c...