Eid-Ul-Fitr Moon Sighting 2024 In India: Shawwal Crescent Moon Not Visible Today, Check Eid Date

As Ramadan 2024 nears its end, Muslims across the globe were set to see the Shawwal crescent moon in countries like India, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, the United Kingdom, and others in the Middle East and West. This sighting would mark the date of Eid-ul-Fitr 2024 and the beginning of a new month in the Islamic lunar calendar.

Since the crescent moon wasn't sighted in Saudi Arabia today, Ramadan will last 30 days, ending on April 9th. This means Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated on April 10th in Saudi Arabia. However, in India (except Kerala), Eid is determined by local moon sighting. Therefore, Eid al-Fitr in most of India is expected to be on April 11th.

Earlier today, Astronomers had expressed concerns regarding the sighting of the Shawwal crescent. Issa Al-Ghafili, an astronomer, explained that the moon was expected to set before the sun, which made it impossible to observe the new crescent until after sunset.

Mutaib Al-Barghash, another astronomer, noted that while the weather in Tumair was slightly cloudy, there were no significant obstructions hindering the visibility of the crescent, but the moon wasn't visible.

Astronomer Abdullah Al-Kathiri had said,'' The weather is cloudy, and seeing the Shawwal crescent in the fire is not possible.''

The moon was not sighted today in Saudi Arabia, which means Eid 2024 will be celebrated on April 10.

Kerala is the only state in India where the date of Eid al-Fitr is determined by the sighting of the moon in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Meteorology had also announced that today's weather was favorable for observing the Eid al-Fitr crescent in the north and west of the KSA. However, visibility was expected to be poor in central regions, Sudair, and Tumair due to heavy clouds.

Eid-ul-Fitr, also known as Eid or Ramadan Eid, signifies the culmination of the sacred month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, engage in prayers, and recite the Holy Quran. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which is solar-based, the Islamic calendar is lunar, relying on the sighting of the crescent moon.

Eid-ul-Fitr occurs approximately 10-11 days earlier each year, depending on the moon sighting, as lunar months are shorter than solar months, leading to a day's variation from country to country. The term "Chand Raat," prevalent in South Asian cultures like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, refers to the night before Eid-ul-Fitr or Eid al-Adha.

"Chand" translates to "moon," and "raat" to "night" in Urdu, symbolizing the night when Muslims await the crescent or new moon, marking the end of Ramadan or the month of Zul-Hijjah. It is a festive time characterized by shopping for new clothes, bangles, and other items for Eid, with lively markets and celebratory vibes where people indulge in sweets, exchange gifts, and greet each other with "Eid Mubarak" (Blessed Eid).

This culturally rich occasion signifies the end of fasting and is a time for jubilant celebration with family and friends. The festive night of Chand Raat is followed by Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations the next morning, a significant religious holiday observed by Muslims worldwide, symbolizing the conclusion of the month-long fasting period of Ramadan. Eid-ul-Fitr, or the "Festival of Breaking the Fast," falls on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar.