Eid-ul-Fitr to be celebrated on Saturday

NEW DELHI - Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated in the National Capital Region (NCR) on Saturday, said the The Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid, Mufti Mohammad Mukkaram Ahmed on Thursday.

“The moon of Shawwal was not sighted today. Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Saturday,” he said.

Syed Ahmed Bhukari, the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, said the moon was not sighted from anywhere as yet and “therefore I announce that the 1st of Shawwal (Eid-ul-Fitr) falls on Saturday.”

The celebrations culminates the fasting by devotees for a month during Ramzan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

The faithful wake up early morning for the pre-dawn ’sehri’ meal renouncing food and water during the day before breaking their fast in the evening. The evening meal is known as ‘iftaar’.

As Islam follows a lunar calendar, the holy month begins every year about 11 days earlier and its commencement is traditionally determined by the appearance of the new moon. (ANI)