According to a recent announcement from the International Astronomy Centre of Saudi Arabia, Eid-ul-Fitr will start on Saturday, April 22, one day later than originally scheduled. Since no Arab or Muslim nation could celebrate the lunar crescent on Thursday (29 Ramadan), Eid is likely to fall on Saturday, 22 April, according to the Centre.
Beginning on Thursday, residents of the Kingdom are encouraged to report any sightings of crescents. In the Kingdom, the Eid holidays will start on Friday, April 21, which is already a day of the weekend.
To celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, the Pakistani government has already proclaimed a five-day national holiday that would run from Friday, April 21, to Tuesday, April 25, this year.
After Ramadan’s 30-day fast is over, Eid-ul-Fitr will be observed nationwide on Saturday, April 22, according to earlier predictions made by the Ruet-e-Hilal Research Council (RHRC).
Khalid Ijaz Mufti, the secretary general of the council, disclosed that the committee meeting is planned for Thursday, April 20, in order to observe the Shawwal moon. Eid-ul-Fitr will be observed on Friday, April 21, if the crescent is visible on Thursday evening. He did point out that it was improbable to see the moon that same evening.
