Eid 2023 Moon Sighting LIVE Updates: Shawwal Crescent Spotted in Saudi; India Set to Celebrate Eid al-Fitr

According to an announcement by the UAE Ministry of Justice and Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, Friday, April 21, 2023, marks the first day of Shawwal and the beginning of the celebration of Eid al-Fitr Al Mubarak.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia has announced that the Eid Al Fitr holiday will commence from Friday, April 21, and will last for four days. Regular working hours for private and non-profit sectors in the Kingdom will resume on Tuesday, April 25, according to Khaleej Times.

India is set to celebrate Eid after Saudi Arabia confirmed the crescent moon that signals the end of the holy month of Ramadan was spotted on Thursday evening. Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated across the world on different days and it is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon which is supposed to denote the start of the Shawwal month in the lunar Islamic calendar.

Saudi Arabia has officially declared that the first day of Eid Al Fitr will occur on Friday, April 21, according to Gulf News. The moon-sighting committee of the kingdom confirmed on Thursday that the month of Ramadan would conclude on April 20, and Eid Al Fitr celebrations would begin form Friday after the crescent moon of Shawwal was sighted in Tumair and Sudair.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has confirmed the coordinates and possibility of sighting the new moon of Shawwal 1444 AH on April 20, 2023. Based on astronomical parameters, the new moon of Shawwal 1444 AH cannot be sighted on the evening of April 20, 2023, which corresponds to the 29th of Ramazan, 1444 AH.

As per the announcement by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, the Shawwal 1444 Hijri moon has not been sighted in Pakistan, according to reports by The Kashmir Today. Consequently, Eid-ul-Fitr and the first day of Shawwal will fall on Saturday, April 22, 2023.

The Association of Muslims in Canada has stated that Eid ul Fitr 2023 is anticipated to be celebrated on Friday, April 21, 2023. However, the final date is contingent on the sighting of the Shawwal 1444AH moon, which is the 10th month of the Islamic Calendar.

A family shops for children’s dresses at a market, ahead of Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Karachi, Pakistan. (REUTERS)

Children select caps at a shop on the eve of Jumat-ul-Vida, in Jammu, Thursday. (PTI Photo)

The chairperson of Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board, Darakhshan Andrabi, announced on Thursday that the historic Eidgah in the region will not be hosting the congregational Eid-ul-Fitr prayers due to bad weather. The Waqf Board had earlier announced that this would be the first time in three years that the prayers would be held at the Eidgah. However, when asked by reporters about it, Andrabi cited unfavorable weather conditions as the reason for the change in plans. Instead, the congregational prayers will be held at the Hazratbal shrine, which houses a relic of Prophet Mohammad.

As anticipation builds for the announcement of Eid Al Fitr, many countries have already declared Saturday, April 22, as the first day of the Islamic festival due to the absence of the Shawwal crescent. However, UAE’s International Astronomy Center has cautioned the public against believing fake images of the Shawwal crescent that are circulating on the Internet. “These pictures are incorrect”, the IAC tweeted, “as they are old pictures of the crescent moon, and the date shown above the pictures is that it is on April 02, 2022 AD.”

In preparation for Eid 2023, the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs in Oman has requested citizens and residents to assist field teams in the Wilayat or report any moon sighting to the subcommittees. The main moon-sighting committee for the month of Shawwal 1444 AH will convene at the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs on Thursday, April 20, 2023, to observe the Shawwal crescent. This committee will play a crucial role in determining the official start of Eid in Oman.

This holiday weekend, viewers have a variety of Eid film releases to choose from, including Hollywood, Bollywood, and Arabic movies. Some of the notable releases include “The Covenant” (English), “Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan” (Hindi), “Ayalvaashi” (Malayalam), “Money Back Guarantee” (Urdu), “John Wick: Chapter 4” (English), “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” (English), “Evil Dead Rise” (English), “To Catch a Killer” (English), “Ramsis Paris” (Arabic), “Tamilarasan” (Tamil), and “Harley” (Arabic). Whether you’re in the mood for action, horror, comedy, or drama, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this Eid.

Marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, Eid-al-Fitr is being celebrated by the Muslim community across the globe. The three-day celebrations of Eid-al-Fitr also mark the beginning of the 10th month of the Islamic calendar which is Shawwal. READ MORE

Thailand has officially declared Saturday, April 22 as the first day of Eid Al-Fitr after the Shawwal moon was not sighted on Thursday. This announcement was made by Thailand’s Central Islamic Council, which is responsible for determining the start of the Islamic month of Shawwal, which marks the end of Ramadan.

With Eid al-Fitr approaching, Syrian sweet traders and shop owners are experiencing a significant decrease in sales, reports Reuters. Haidar Haidar, who owns a sweets shop in the Jazmatieh market, reports a 50% drop in sales. He attributes this to the high cost of living, which has led citizens to prioritize other expenses. Syria’s economic crisis is a result of years of conflict, Western sanctions, currency devaluation due to the financial crisis in Lebanon, and the government’s loss of northeastern oil-producing territories.

Crowds flocked to the Sadarghat Ferry Terminal in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Thursday to travel back home and celebrate Eid al-Fitr with their families.

People shop at a market ahead of Eid al-Fitr in the port city of Sidon, Lebanon on Thursday. (REUTERS/Aziz Taher)

Salman Khan’s commercial film “Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan” be released on Friday. Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has released a movie every Eid, which was a part of the festivities for many. However, recent releases like “Tubelight” and “Bharat” didn’t do well at the box office. With the Covid-19 pandemic, people are questioning whether Salman Khan can still work his magic in a changed world.

Abu Dhabi is set to celebrate and host a series of activations during Eid Al-Fitr, with pop-up musical performances, star-studded concerts, immersive cultural experiences, exciting family entertainment, and much more, according to a tweet by its Department of Culture and Tourism.