By: Kauser Khan, Associate Editor-ICN Group
Eid is one of the two biggest festivals celebrated by Muslims worldwide. Muslims offer a special prayer in open areas like fields, community centres, etc. or at mosques.
Eid Mubarak To All.
The festival, one of the most important in the Muslim calendar marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, is traditionally celebrated with mosque prayers, family feasts and shopping for new clothes, gifts and sweet treats.But this year, the celebration is overshadowed by the fast-spreading respiratory disease, with many countries tightening lockdown restrictions after a partial easing during Ramadan led to a sharp spike in infections.Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Turkey. Syria, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Pakistan and Australia announced that Saturday will be the last day of Ramadan and that Eid Ul Fitr will be on Sunday.India (Kerala, J &K),Pakistan, Bangladesh and several other countries in Asia will be sighting the moon May 23. This year, Ramadan in India began on April 25 and it lasts for one complete moon cycle, which is usually 29 to 30 days.Eid-ul-Fitr is the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal. It marks the end of Ramadan, which is a month of fasting and prayer.Many Muslims attend communal prayers, listen to a khutba (sermon) and give Zakat al-Fitr (charity in the form of food) during Eid-ul-Fitr.The auspicious festival of Eid-ul-Fitr or Eid-Al-Fitr is widely celebrated by Muslims around the globe.The date of Eid al-Fitr also typically varies from country to country, depending on whether the moon has been sighted.Eid is being celebrated in Gulf countries – UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain today.Eid is one of the two biggest festivals celebrated by Muslims worldwide. Muslims offer a special prayer in open areas like fields, community centres, etc. or at mosques.The Covid-19 death tolls across the Middle East and Asia have been lower than in Europe and the United States, but numbers are rising steadily, sparking fears the virus may overwhelm often underfunded healthcare systems.The festival marks the end of Ramadan and is celebrated by breaking the 30-day long fast with a grand celebration.Every year, the dates of Ramadan and Eid change – as the Muslim calendar, which began when Prophet Mohammad migrated from Mecca to Medina (also known as Hijr) in 622 AD – is based on the phases of the moon.
