New Delhi:
As Muslims around the world bid Ramadan farewell, they also prepare for Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of the Muslim holy month. Eid-al-Fitr is the first day of the 10th Islamic month of Shawwal. According to timeanddate.com, June 5 will be celebrated as Eid ul Fitr in India, and the last day of Ramadan will be June 4.
According to the website, the sundown today is at 7:15 PM in Delhi, after which the moon sighting will be clearer. So the moon sight timing in Delhi is likely to be around 7 PM to 7:45 PM. After the first visible crescent, Eid-ul-Fitr will be announced the next day.
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE started Eid on Tuesday, whereas Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Pakistan and Australia and others won't start till Wednesday.
Every year, the dates of Ramadan and Eid change as the Muslim calendar – which began when Prophet Mohammad migrated from Mecca to Medina (also known as Hijr) in 622 AD – is based on the phases of the moon.
In 2019, the young moon is expected to be seen on June 5, and for countries just west of the International Date Line – like the countries in far eastern Asia – the young moon sighting will likely be on June 6.
Eid al-Fitr means "festival of breaking the fast" and marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Traditionally, Eid is celebrated for three days as an official holiday in all Muslim-majority countries. However, the number of vacation days varies by country.
