Eid-ul-Fitr 2020: India Timings, Date, Significance

HYDERABAD: As the holy month of Ramzan comes to an end on Monday, May 24, Eid-ul-Fitr, also known as Eid-al-Fitr, will be celebrated on May 25 in India. However, the timings and dates differ in all countries.

Eid-ul-Fitr is the first day of the 10th Islamic month of Shawwal and marks the end of the Ramzan month. Ramzan began in India on April 26 and it lasts for one complete moon cycle, which is usually 29 to 30 days.

Ramzan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar during which Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk and end their fast in the evening.

The Shawwal moon is first sighted in Saudi Arabia. Once the moon is sighted, Eid 2020 commences. Depending on moon sighting, the dates may vary.

In Kerala, Eid will be celebrated on Sunday, while in Ladakh, people celebrated Eid today. "The moon was sighted in Kargil yesterday so we are celebrating Eid in Ladakh today. Due to COVID-19 outbreak, we will be offering prayers at our homes," a local was quoted as saying by a news agency.

Eid will being celebrated in Gulf countries - UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain on Sunday.

On Eid-ul-fitr, people listen to khutba (sermon) and give zakat al-fitr (distribute food). Muslims across India and world meet each other, exchange pleasantries, gifts and also feast together. Children are given 'Eidi' (small gifts) as a token of love from elders.

Eid is also called as 'Meethi Eid' as mouth-watering sweet delicacies such as sheer khurma, khubani ka meetha and khalja pheni are part of the meals.

In Hyderabad, famous for its Haleem, a rich meaty porridge, korma - a thick meat-based curry, was missed this time as about 6,000 haleem makers decided not to make the sumptous meal in order to in a bid to cooperate with government guidelines to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

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