Eid 2016: Turkey, Russia celebrate Eid al-Fitr on Tuesday; why UAE, India celebrating on later dates?

Saudi Arabia has declared that Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated on 6 July and many countries including the U.S., U.K., Australia and UAE will observe the end of Ramadan on Wednesday.

But Eid ul-Fitr will be marked on Thursday, 7 July, in some countries such as India, Bangladesh, Malawi and others. While most countries around the world will celebrate Eid either on 6 or 7 July, millions of Muslims in Turkey and Russia celebrated the feast of end of Ramadan on Tuesday, 5 July.

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Turkey's President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan extended his wishes to all the Muslims celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr in the country and also joined the prayers of Eid at AtaÅŸehir Mimar Sinan Mosque in Istanbul on Tuesday morning, Daily Sabah reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin also congratulated Muslims in his country on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr and issued a press note on this occasion.

The Eid celebrations in Turkey and Russia come a day before Saudi Arabia. The moon was not sighted in Saudi Arabia or any other Gulf countries on Monday, extending the fasting for one more day in most countries. There are reports stating Pakistan will this year celebrate Eid al-Fitr on the same day as Saudi Arabia, which is on Wednesday.

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet on Tuesday in Lahore for the sighting of the moon. The crescent moon, which marks the first day of the month of Shawwal, is likely to be visible in most parts of the country despite partially cloudy weather.

Eid al-Fitr is an Arabic word, which translates as the "festival of ending the fast," but it is also commonly referred to as the "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, Muslims are dressed in their best attire and offer 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.