Muslims in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Jammu Kashmir, and Ladakh are celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the month-long Ramadan fast, on Wednesday, a day ahead of celebrations in the rest of India.
Eid-ul-Fitr, with 'Eid' signifying celebrations and 'Fitr' meaning breaking of the fast, is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar, after the new moon or bow moon sighting.
Although India and Pakistan celebrate Eid a day after Saudi Arabia and Kerala, however, it’s not deemed necessary to do so.
Celebrations are subjected to the crescent moon sighting. The moon sighting in Saudi indicates when India and Pakistan declare Eid. In fact, India celebrates the festival a day after the Middle East due to a time difference.
In Kerala, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir the Shawwal crescent moon was sighted on April 9 while Muslims in the rest of India continued to fast and will celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Thursday, April 11.
As Kashmir is near Pakistan, the recommendations made by the Hilal Committee of Pakistan are important.
As the moon was visible in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, the Union Territory's grand Mufti Nasir-Ul-Islam declared Eid celebrations for 2024 on Wednesday.
Ladakh, too, confirmed the festival date on Wednesday, following the sighting of a crescent moon in Leh on April 9.
Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir observed the holy festival with morning prayers.
A massive crowd gathered at a mosque in Kerala's Ernakulam district and mass prayers were offered in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram.
According to the Lucknow Markazi Hilal (Chand) Committee, "The Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted in the country on Tuesday." Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, chairman of the committee, said, "The moon has not been sighted in Lucknow, and we have received no information about it anywhere in the country." So it was agreed that Eid-al-Fitr would be celebrated on April 11.
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