Jakarta, Indonesia - Asian Muslims began observing the holy month of Ramadan at the weekend with many still incensed about the pope's comments linking Islam with violence and those in conflict areas wishing for peace.
While the religious came to terms with the sunrise-to-sunset fast, traditional delicacies filled markets across the region in anticipation of the first evening meal as shoppers complained about the usual price hikes.
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, started Ramadan on Sunday with feelings still raw following the execution by firing squad of three Christians convicted of involvement in religious unrest.
Hundreds of mourners attended the burial of two of the men in Central Sulawesi while thousands more lined the streets from the airport to the main town on Flores island as the body of the third arrived.
The men were executed Friday after being convicted of involvement in deadly rioting between Christians and Muslims in religiously divided Central Sulawesi in 2000-01.
The first day of the fast -- with eating, drinking, smoking and having sex banned between sunrise and sunset -- dragged for many of the country's roughly 200 millions Muslims.
"I am not really doing well this morning, but then this is the first day of Ramadan," said Januri, a middle-aged cigarette seller in central Jakarta.
"It will get better later in the day near the break of the fast and in the evening," he said.
Restaurants and foodstalls were closed Sunday, their fronts covered with white cloth so as to not tempt passers-by, but some stalls had begun selling foods favoured for the sunset breaking of the fast.
Muslim-majority Malaysia, where government reaction to Pope's Benedict XVI's comments was particularly heated, also began observing Ramadan Sunday with colourful bazaars made up of hundreds of tents set up in the capital Kuala Lumpur offering traditional delicacies for the evening.
Prices for fish, prawns, chicken and vegetables had all shot up, shoppers complained. "This has dampened my mood," said Siti Nora, a 35-year-old businesswoman.
People in India's Muslim-dominated Kashmir were disappointed no ceasefire had been called between government troops and rebels to mark the month.
The region's dominant rebel group fighting Indian rule laid down terms for a truce, including a cut in troops, that the government would not meet.
"We were hoping for a ceasefire. That would have provided us a very peaceful atmosphere for this holy month," said Haleema Akhter, a 62-year-old housewife in the area where 44,000 people have been killed since violence erupted in 1989.
Bangladeshis were also hoping religious observation would calm political tempers and lead to talks to end a row over electoral reforms that has polarised the nation.
"If they are good Muslims, they (the government and opposition) should set aside their egos, pray and talk to resolve the differences during Ramadan," said Mohammad Ayub Ali, a clerk at a private bank.
Political analysts say a serious political crisis looms in Bangladesh over the opposition's threat to boycott planned general elections in January unless the government enacts electoral reforms.
War-weary Afghans also held out hope that Ramadan, which they began observing on Saturday, would bring respite to the Taliban-led insurgency which has been grinding down the country since the extremists were toppled in 2001.
While the mosques were filled with men at prayer and families bought special cookies and sweets, security force operations against the militants continued unabated.
"It might be tough for Taliban to fight while they are fasting," said Kabul resident Ahmad Khan. "But maybe they will just reserve their energy and weapons for after Ramadan."