The ninth month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar is Ramadan, and the tenth is Shawwal (Shawwal translates to “festival of breaking the fast.”) The first day of Shawwal is celebrated around the world as Eid-ul-Fitr. Prophet Muhammad is claimed to have received the first revelation of the Holy Quran during the holy month of Ramadan.

Eid-Ul-Fitr commemorates the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the Shawwal month. Eid-Ul-Fitr is also a time to pay respect to Allah following a successful month of fasting, praying, and abstaining from all negative actions, thoughts, and words.

Also Read|Eid-Ul-Fitr 2022: India and Saudi Arabia to celebrate Eid on the same day

Eid-ul-Fitr, like other Islamic festivals, is dependent on the sighting of the moon and does not correspond to a specific date in the Gregorian calendar. Eid is often celebrated on different days around the world depending on the sighting of the moon.

Dates

India is ready to celebrate Eid-al-Fitr on Tuesday, May 3rd after Ramadan fasting was prolonged for another day due to the absence of a crescent moon on Sunday evening. 

Also Read|Ramadan wish and greeting ideas for friends and family

“The Shawwal crescent (moon) was not sighted on Sunday evening hence, May 2 will be observed as the last day of Ramzan and Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated on May 3,” Lucknow’s Markazi Chand Committee was quoted as saying by a news agency ANI. “Eid-al-Fitr namaz at Indgah Lucknow will be held on 03 May 2022 at 10 am,” the Markazi Chand Committee said in a statement.

The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia, as well as moon sighting committees in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Morocco, Muscat, Yemen, Sudan, Egypt, Tunisia, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, and other Arab states, have already announced that Muslims in these countries will celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on May 2nd.

Also Read|In pics | Middle-East, South Asia mark start of the holy month of Ramadan

Since the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and European countries rely on the moon announcement by the Saudi Arabia Royal Court, Muslims there will also mark Eid celebrations with the Gulf states.

Celebration

The festival is commemorated by a special prayer in the morning and the payment of Zakat al-Fitrah (a compulsory form of charity), followed by friends and families gathering to rejoice, exchanging gifts and cash envelopes, and, of course, feasting on lots of wonderful food.

Also Read|Ramadan 2022: Delicious Iftar recipes to try this month

Every Muslim culture observes Eid ul-Fitr in a unique way. In Turkey, for example, children are given candy and sugar-coated almonds as part of the celebration. Fekkas, Kaab el Ghazal, and Ghoriba Bahla are Moroccan festive sweets that are not complete without them. Meanwhile, traditional delicacies such as Ketupat, which is considered a symbol of blessings and forgiveness in Indonesia, are made as part of the festivities.