Kerala government declares two-day holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr

The Kerala government has declared a two-day holiday on April 21 and 22 for Eid-ul-Fitr.

Eid-ul-Fitr is observed a day earlier than the rest of India because the local moon sighting committee follows the traditional Islamic calendar and waits for the actual sighting of the moon.

Kerala is the only state in India where Eid-ul-Fitr is decided in accordance with the moon sighting in Saudi Arabia. The state government declares a holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr in lines with the decision to etc committee and this year the auspicious festival is going to be celebrated in Kerala on April 21.

Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated across the world on different days. It is determined by the sighting of the moon, which denotes the start of the Shawwal month in the lunar Islamic calendar. It also marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramzan.

Ramzan takes place for 720 hours ie four weeks and two days. During this period the followers of Islam or Muslims fast between dawn and sunset. They pray for peace and guidance, give back to the community in the form of charity.

The ninth month in the Islamic Lunar calendar is Ramzan and the tenth is Shawwal, whose first day is marked at the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr across the world.

Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on April 22 as the crescent moon was not seen marking the end of the fasting month. If the new moon is visible, then Eid will be celebrated the following day. In India, followers of Islam are expecting the moon sighting today, post 6.45 pm.