Eid al-Fitr is an Islamic celebration that commemorates the completion of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting during which Muslims fast from dawn until dusk every day.
The Arabic term ‘Eid al-Fitr’ translates to ‘festival of breaking the fast’.
Eid al-Fitr is observed on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Muslim (lunar) calendar.
It does not begin until the new moon is visible, therefore Muslims in different parts of the world celebrate the festival at different times.
India is expected to celebrate Eid al-Fitr on April 10 or 11 this year.
Kerala is the only Indian state whose Eid al-Fitr date is determined based on a sighting of the moon in Saudi Arabia.
Muslims in India, along with those in South Asian countries, will gear up to sight the Crescent moon on April 9, 2024.
Eid al-Fitr has deep roots in Islamic customs and dates back to the Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina in the early days of Islam.
The festival’s goal is to foster unity and return to routine life after an extended period of religious devotion and abstinence from food and drink.
While Eid al-Fitr traditions differ from nation to nation, they often involve seeing family and friends, exchanging gifts, feasting, and dressing up.