JAKARTA Despite Ramadan's emphasis on empathizing with the poor, the Islamic holy month of fasting is when most Indonesians spend more on food, clothes and motorbikes than any other time of the year.
During the 30 days of Ramadan, Muslims are forbidden to eat and drink, smoke and have sexual intercourse during daylight hours, and are also told to control anger, among other things. It is a major annual event for Indonesia, which is home to the world's largest Muslim population -- more than 200 million people, or nearly 90% of the country's inhabitants.
