Updated: June 14, 2018 12:13 PM IST
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Eid-ul-Fitr 2018: Confusion Over Date as Moon Sighting to Decide Date; Eid-ul-Fitr Either on June 15 or 16.
New Delhi, June 14: There is confusion over the date of Eid-ul-Fitr this year; it could be on Friday or Saturday. The reason behind this confusion is the fact that Eid would be celebrated after crescent moon sighting and the new moon is seen either after 29 or 30 days of fasting.
HIGHLIGHTS : The number of days in the month can only be arrived at after the sighting of the moon.
Eid-ul-Fitr marks the official end the month of Ramza, a month of fasting and sacrifice. During Ramzan, Muslims observe fast which means staying off food and water from dawn to dusk. They offer special prayers. The confusion over Eid date persists because the religious authorities of each nation have the right to declare the date of celebration according to the sighting of the new moon in their region. Ramzan has either 29 or 30 days and Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of the 10th month of Islamic calendar. But the number of days in the month can only be arrived at after the sighting of the moon. People in Mumbai started roza a day later than those in Delhi, and now if they see the moon on the 30th day of this month, then they will celebrate Eid on Sunday.
People try to sight the moon after sunset (when they break the fast) on the 29th day. If the moon is sighted in any part of the Indian subcontinent, all Muslims in the region celebrate Eid ul-Fitr the next day. However, some sects have more strict rules to establish that the moon has been sighted.
On Thursday, the sun in Delhi-NCR will set at 7.22 pm and that is when devotees will break their fast, said reports. The crescent moon appears only for a few minutes on the first day of the month and if people miss the chance to spot it, they have to rely on sources from other cities. Local mosques also make announcements after confirmation from various sources.
