New Delhi, India

The crescent moon, or Shawwal moon, was not sighted in Saudi Arabia on Monday (Apr 8), so Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on April 10 (Wednesday). It also indicates that Muslims will observe a 30-day fast this Ramadan instead of 29 days. 

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About the crescent moon sighting

Eid-ul-Fitr falls on the first day of Shawwal and is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon, also called the Shawwal moon. It marks the culmination of the holy month of Ramadan. 

Ramadan – the holiest month in the Muslim calendar – began on March 11. During this time, Muslims across the world fast from dawn to dusk and pray while abstaining from eating and drinking.  

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In addition to determining the date of Eid-ul-Fitr, the Shawwal crescent moon also marks the beginning of the new month in the Islamic lunar calendar. 

Eid-ul-Fitr takes place approximately 10-11 days earlier each year, depending on when the Shawwal crescent moon is sighted because the lunar calendar is shorter than the solar-based Gregorian calendar, which most of the world follows.

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“Supreme Court declares tomorrow the last day of #Ramadan and Wednesday the first day of #Eid Al-Fitr,” said the official Saudi Press Agency, in a post on X. 

Saudi Arabia is home to Islam’s holiest shrines and holds significance, not only in India but in many countries across the world. 

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Eid-ul-Fitr will also be celebrated in Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday. 

The Australian Fatwa Council also announced marking Eid on April 10, as did the UK’s Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith. 

Muslims in India and other South Asian countries will continue to fast on Wednesday and Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Thursday (Apr 11). 

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In several South Asian countries, the night before Eid-ul-Fitr is also called Chand Raat, where “chand” means moon and “raat” means night. 

It is a festive night where people go out shopping, people celebrate by eating sweets, exchanging gifts and greeting each other by saying Eid Mubarak. 

In Pakistan, the Met Office predicted that the Shawwal moon was expected to be sighted on April 9.

(With inputs from agencies)