Update:
11:30 pm, 5 July: Jammu & Kashmir, Mangalore and Kerala will celebrate Eid al-Fitr on July 6, along with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. The rest of India will mark the end of Ramadan on July 7.
Mufti Bashiruddin Ahmad, the Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, announced on Tuesday that Eid al-Fitr would be celebrated in the state on Wednesday following reports of sighting of the crescent.
Update:
3:45 pm, 5 July: Media reports are suggesting that Eid al-Fitr in Pakistan will fall on the same day as Saudi Arabia on July 6 this year, whereas in India it will be celebrated the next day on July 7. The rare occurance is said to happen once in three decades, which will end Ramadan after 29 fasts in Pakistan while Saudi Arabia will witness all 30 fasts this year. Moon sighting on Tuesday evening will confirm if Pakistan will celebrate Eid with Saudi Arabia.
"It can happen once in 30 years. There are precedents of celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on the same day. There are chances of repeating the history of Eid-ul-Fitr in Saudi Arabia on completion of 30 days of fasting and that in Pakistan after 29 days", said meteorological expert Shaukat Ali Awan, according to The Nation.
12 noon, 5 July: As the crescent moon was not spotted on Monday in countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE and others, Eid ul-Fitr in India will be celebrated on July 7. Muslims in the Gulf countries will celebrate Eid al-Fitr on July 6 after completing 30 days of fasting and other countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh will observe Eid on July 7.
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Original story...
With only handful of days left for Ramadan this year, Muslims around the world are preparing for Eid al-Fitr celebrations. While Muslims in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries will look for the crescent moon on Monday, July 4, as advised by the Supreme Court, Indian Muslims will look for signs of Eid on Tuesday, July 5. Eid al-Fitr will only be confirmed after the crescent moon has been sighted in respective countries, but if Eid is confirmed in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, July 5, it probably will be on the next day on July 6 in countries like India and Afghanistan.
The International Astronimical Center is skeptical about the moon's visibility from certain areas, but those in Latin American countries are expected to witness the crescent moon with naked eyes on Monday evening. If Eid is celebrated on July 5 in these countries, India will observe Eid ul-Fitr, as it is known in this country, on July 6.
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In India, the moon sighting will start on Tuesday. Due to the current weather conditions of the country, it is expected to be a challenge to observe the crescent moon. India's leading Islamic committees will announce the date of Eid ul-Fitr on Tuesday. If the moon is not sighted on Tuesday in India, Muslims will get 30 fasts this year and celebrate Eid on Thursday, July 7.
Eid al-Fitr is translated as the "festival of ending the fast," but it is known by different terms, such as "feast of fasting," "smaller Eid," "Eid al-Saghir," "sugar feast," and "feast of fasting." As the reward for Muslims' devotion to Allah during the month of Ramadan, Eid ul-Fitr is the day when all Muslims are forgiven for their past sins.
On this day, it is seen that Muslims are dressed in their best attire and head for prayers of Eid, which is usually held in open grounds. Unlike traditional prayers, the Eid prayers consist of sermon followed by a congregational prayer. There is no audible call for Eid prayers as in the case of five time prayers in a day, but Muslims recite praises of Allah the entire time leading to the prayers.
