Srinagar- The wait for Eid is almost over, but Muslims in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh will have to complete one more fast before celebrations begin. Religious authorities confirmed on Thursday evening that the Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted on March 19. As a result, Eid ul-Fitr will not be observed on Friday, March 20.

Instead, Friday will mark the 30th and final day of Ramazan, and Eid will now be celebrated on Saturday, March 21.

Moon sighting committees in several cities across India, Pakistan and Bangladesh met after sunset to look for the Shawwal crescent. However, no confirmed reports of moon sighting were received.

In Srinagar the Grand Mufti, Nasir-ul-Islam said that weather conditions remained unfavourable, with dense cloud cover persisting over most parts of the Valley, making moon sighting difficult.

“There has been no confirmed report of moon sighting from any area so far,” the Grand Mufti said.

Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the culmination of the fasting month of Ramzan. Eid 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.

This year, the month of Ramzan comprised 30 days, while last year it was 29 days.

According to the Islamic calendar, there are 29 or 30 days in a month, depending on the sighting of the moon.
During the month of Ramzan, people do not eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset.