India celebrates last Jumma ahead of Eid ul-Fitr on April 22

Muslims around the world are getting ready for Eid ul-Fitr which is to be celebrated on April 22 this year. The day marks the culmination of the holy month of Ramadan.

As the month-long fasting draws to a close, Muslims in India are celebrating the last Jumma of the month today.

Although the date of Eid varies, depending on the sighting of the moon, this year, it is expected to begin on Saturday.

Though lunar months are either 29 or 30 days long, people who are following the rituals have to wait until the night before Eid to confirm its date.

Meanwhile, in the countries that started Ramadan on March 24, the moon sighters will look for the lunar event on Friday evening, April 21.

As the Eid celebrations depend on the sighting of the crescent moon, the expected date of the festival can even shift to April 23. Due to this, different regions celebrate Eid on slightly different dates. The Shawwal moon is first sighted in Saudi Arabia.

Also Read: Special dishes for your Eid Al-Fitr feast

Meantime, Indians celebrated the last Jumma of the Ramadan month in their respective states.

An Iftar party was held on Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch, where Indian Army officers and BDC chairpersons along with many others from the Muslim community participated after praying for the peace, happiness, prosperity, and good health of all the countrymen in the nation.

In Kerala, the state government has declared two days of holiday on 21 & 22 April on the eve of Eid ul Fitr. As the new moon was not sighted anywhere in the state on Thursday, the holy festival will not be celebrated on Friday. The holiday will be enjoyed by all Government offices in Kerala including all Public Sector Undertakings, educational institutions (including professional colleges) and institutions coming under Negotiable Instruments Act-1881,” read the order issued by the general administration department Kerala.

Markets in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar city also remained crowded ahead of the big day as buyers thronged mutton, poultry, bakery, hosiery, and firecracker shops in large numbers.

The India Union Muslim League (IUML) state president Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal also said on Thursday that as the Shawwal crescent moon could not be spotted yesterday, Eid will be celebrated in India on April 22.

Amid preparations for Eid celebrations, Lieutenant Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundarajan hosted an Iftar party at Raj Nivas in the Union Territory on Wednesday. In his tweet, the LG extended his wishes for the promotion of brotherhood to all the people of the Islamic community.

“Happy to host the ‘IFTAR’ celebration at Raj Nivas, Puducherry. Alongside Honb CM, Speaker, Ministers, MLAs, Officials, Wakf Board members, Immam & dignitaries from IslamicCommunity & political party leaders. On this occasion let’s promote the message of the Brotherhood,” reads Puducherry Lt Governor’s tweet.

UT’s CM N Rangasamy, Speakerr R Selvam, Ministers, legislators, of All India NR Congress (AINRC), Waqf Board members, dignitaries from the Islamic Community, etc, joined the Iftar party hosted by Puducherry Lt Governor.