The federal government of Pakistan has declared a four-day holiday in celebration of Eid ul Fitr, commencing from April 10th.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif officially approved the holidays from April 10th to April 13th, as announced on Wednesday. The prediction by the Met Office on Monday suggested that Eid ul Fitr’s first day would coincide with April 10th, with the sighting of the Shawwal moon expected on April 9th.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the crescent for Shawwal would emerge on April 8th at 11:21 pm and would be visible for approximately 19 to 20 hours around Maghrib prayer the following day. The crescent sighting window is expected to be over 50 minutes around sundown.
The PMD further indicated that the skies over most parts of the country would be clear on April 9th, although there might be cloud cover in the northern regions.
Following the sighting of the crescent for the holy month of Ramadan on March 11th, Pakistanis commenced fasting the next day. If the PMD’s forecast holds true, Ramadan will span 29 days.
Eid ul Fitr holds significant importance for Muslims worldwide, marking the culmination of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, emphasizes patience, self-control, charity, and welfare, while Eid serves as a time of jubilation and festivity immediately afterward.
Due to the Islamic calendar’s lunar-based system, with months lasting either 29 or 30 days depending on the crescent’s appearance, the timing of Ramadan varies annually in relation to the Gregorian calendar. This disparity results in Ramadan occurring at different times each year, contributing to the dynamic nature of Islamic festivities.
