Guwahati: Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated in Assam on May 3 due to the fact that the crescent moon was not seen from any part of Assam or India.
Maulana Fakhruddin Ahmed Qasimi, President of Central Hilal Committee Assam and Secretary Imdad Hussain made this announcement via a statement on May 1.
Notably, Eid marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan, which lasts for a month. The religious festival is celebrated in the month of Shawwal and it started from May 2 for this year.
The beginning and the ending of the fasting period for Muslims completely depends on the sighting of the moon.
The crescent moon is first spotted in Saudi Arabia, after which the rest of the world celebrates this festival with their near and dear ones. As a result, the date of Eid is not the same for every country and it differs accordingly.
Meanwhile, the word 'Eid' means 'feast' or 'festival'. Each year Muslims celebrate both
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha - but the names often get shortened to just 'Eid', which is why it can be confusing at times.
Festivals in Islam are based on the lunar calendar - which is around 11 days shorter than the solar calendar, which most people in the world use in their day-to-day life.
Eid al-Fitr - which means 'festival of the breaking of the fast - is celebrated at the end of Ramadan, a month when many adult Muslims fast.
Fasting is important for Muslims during Ramadan as it allows them to devote themselves to their faith and come closer to Allah, or God. It was originated by the Prophet Muhammad, and is celebrated for one to three days, depending on the country. After Ramadan, fasting is forbidden on the Day of Eid.
On the other hand, Eid al-Adha - which means 'feast of the sacrifice' - is celebrated just over two months later, at the same time when many Muslims perform the Hajj pilgrimage.
Eid al-Adha coincides with the end of Hajj - the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, and is generally considered the holier of the two festivals.
Hajj is a once-in-a-lifetime activity that is a duty for those who can afford it, and who haven't already performed it. Eid-al-Adha is an annual activity celebrated by all.
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