RIYADH: Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest sites, announced that the Muslim holiday of Eidul Fitr marking the end of the Ramazan fasting period will begin today (Sunday).
“The Supreme Court has decided that Sunday (March 30, 2025) is the first day of Eidul Fitr,” the Royal Court said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency on X.
The timing of Eidul Fitr is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon, in accordance with the Muslim lunar calendar.
The United Arab Emirates and Qatar also announced Sunday would be the first day of the Eid holiday. Meanwhile Oman and Iran said that Eidul Fitr would start on Monday.
In Bangladesh, the National Moon Sighting Committee stated that the crescent moon was not sighted, making Sunday the 30th day of Ramadan, according to Saudi Gazette.
Indonesia also declared Monday as the first day of Eid after failing to observe the Shawwal crescent.
India, where today marks the 28th of Ramadan, expects the moon to be visible on Sunday, thereby celebrating Eid on Monday. Malaysia’s International Astronomy Centre (IAC) confirmed that the crescent will be visible to the naked eye on Sunday, placing Eid on March 31.
Brunei followed suit, with the IAC also confirming that the moon will be visible there on Sunday.
Muslims following the fixed calendar will celebrate Eid on Sunday after the completion of 29 days of fasting in the US and Canada. However, mosques and organizations that follow moon sighting will announce their decisions after the evidence of moon sighting. According to astronomers, the chances of moon sighting in Los Angeles and Vancouver are bright.