Many Somali families in Banyule have joined Muslims around the world in fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.

There are an estimated 800 Somalians living in the Heidelberg West area.

Observing Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is a time of spiritual and physical cleansing and characterised by fasting and giving to the poor and lasts for 30 days. This year it ends on January 30.

Shiekh Abdulla Mohamud, of the Heidelberg West mosque, describes it as a time of spiritual connection between Muslims throughout the world.

"It is the month in which God revealed the Holy Koran to the prophet Mohamud Abdulla," Shiekh Abdulla said.

He said spiritual cleansing included regularly reading and trying to understand the Holy Koran, and praying each evening for at least one hour.

Physical cleansing involves daily abstinence from food or liquid between dawn and dusk, offering food to people in need, and only consuming certain foods.

During this month of Ramadan about 120 people have gathered each night at the mosque, including about 95 men and 25 women and children.

Shiekh Abdulla said it was important that the Muslim community increased public awareness of their religion.

The significance

"As Muslims and Australian citizens, we need to show other people the significance of Ramadan through action," he said.

"Through this good behaviour, especially in this month, other people can understand the meaning of Ramadan and the meaning of Islam."

Malyun Ahmed, a Somali community worker with the North Eastern Migrant Resource Centre, describes Ramadan as a valuable form of worship.

"It is regarded as very strict and people follow it," Mrs Ahmed said. "It is a month where people are very kind to each other."

There are a few exemptions to the fasting, such as women with infants, the very sick, people older than 70, travellers on long journeys and children younger than 15.

The end of Ramadan is celebrated with the festival Eed-ul-Fitr (Eed means anniversary). The date is determined by the new moon.

The day after Ramadan families have to give money to the poor before the 8am prayers.

"Everybody wears new clothes and people will cook lots of food and sweets," Mrs Ahmed said.

"After the prayer people will greet each other, like Merry Christmas. For one time of the year, the poor and rich are equal. It is to remind the rich what the poor go through."

The rigors of fasting create the need for community awareness of Ramadan and its meaning.

"I think schools are becoming aware of it but it is not really visible in other places," Mrs Ahmed said.

The Banyule Council has called on the community to understand the restrictions and relevance of Ramadan to Muslims.