Eid ul Fitr Celebrations Across the Globe: Observances in KSA, UAE, and Beyond
Eid ul Fitr prayers were held globally on Sunday, with major celebrations in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and countries such as Qatar and Kuwait. Many nations, including Pakistan and India, are determining their Eid dates based on lunar sightings, with some officially scheduling celebrations for March 31, 2025, amidst widespread festive activities.
Eid ul Fitr prayers were conducted globally on Sunday as Muslims celebrated this important festival in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, among other countries. In addition to these nations, festivities extended to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Turkiye, Iran, Sudan, Lebanon, Yemen, and Palestine, following the sighting of the Shawwal moon on Saturday.
Eid ul Fitr commemorates the end of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar characterized by fasting. The date of Eid ul Fitr is established by the sighting of the crescent moon, consistent with the Islamic lunar calendar. Additionally, communities in the United States and Canada are also observing Eid, with local mosques announcing the celebration according to moon sightings.
In Pakistan, the Bohra community celebrated Eid with congregational prayers in cities including Karachi, Saddar, and Soldier Bazaar, pending an official moon sighting decision from the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee. Afghan refugees in Pakistan also participated in Eid festivities, despite heightened security measures.
Notably, some countries have officially declared Monday, March 31, 2025, as Eid ul Fitr, as the Shawwal crescent was not sighted on Saturday evening. Authorities in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Australia confirmed this date based on both astronomical data and moon sighting observations.
In Bangladesh, the National Moon Sighting Committee announced that the crescent moon was not observed, making Sunday the last day of Ramadan. Iraq also opted to celebrate Eid on Monday, while several groups in the country held prayers on the preceding Sunday. Indonesia confirmed its Eid observation for Monday as well, due to the inability to see the Shawwal crescent.
India anticipated moon visibility on Sunday, thus planning for Eid observance on Monday. The International Astronomy Centre in Malaysia confirmed that the crescent would be visible, scheduling Eid for March 31. Similarly, Brunei received the same confirmation, leading to the joint observance, while the Australian Fatwa Council stated that Eid Al-Fitr will also occur on March 31, with the moon expected to emerge after Saturday’s sunset.
In conclusion, the Eid ul Fitr celebrations span across various nations, with significant observances occurring in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and beyond. Countries like Pakistan, India, and Indonesia are closely monitoring celestial activities to confirm their Eid observances. While some nations have designated March 31 as Eid due to the Shawwal crescent’s visibility, the global Muslim community united in celebration, reinforcing the communal spirit of this significant festival.
Original Source: www.thenews.com.pk
