Eid-ul-Fitr on Thursday; Kerala, J&K to celebrate Wednesday

New Delhi, Jul 5: Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the culmination of the fasting and holy month of Ramzan, will be celebrated across the country, barring Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir, on Thursday.

"Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Thursday as the moon was not sighted today," Imam of Delhi's Fatehpuri Masjid Mufti Mohammad Mukarram Ahmed told PTI. As this lunar month was of 30 days, fasting by Muslims will automatically be over on July 7, the day on which Eid will be celebrated.

"Hence, the festival will be celebrated on Thursday," the Imam said. The Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, also announced that the Eid will be celebrated on July 7.

In Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir, however, Eid will be celebrated tomorrow. Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Bashiruddin Ahmad today announced that Eid-ul-Fitr would be celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow following reports of sighting of the crescent.

Ramzan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is observed as a fasting period by Muslims world over who abstain from food and water during the period extending from 30 minutes before the sunrise to sunset.

Earlier in the day, the Centre announced that its offices in the national capital will remain closed on Thursday in view of Eid.

PTI