When is Chand Raat 2024: Know the date of Eid-al-Fitr moon ...
Eid-ul-Fitr 2024 Moon Sighting: Eid marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan or Ramzan. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock Images)
The festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, also known as Eid-al-Fitr, Meethi Eid, and Id-al-Fitr, marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Observed on the first three days of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Hijri. Chand Raat is a term used in South Asian cultures, particularly in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, to denote the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr or Eid al-Adha. The term is derived from Urdu, where “chand” means moon and “raat” means night, thus translating to the night when the moon is sighted. This night is significant for Muslims as it marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, the month of Zul-Hijjah, and the beginning of the month of Shawwal.
A significant and joyous occasion that brings together Muslims from all corners of the globe, different countries may witness the Shawwal moon on different dates, leading to variations in the Eid-al-Fitr date across the world. As it’s a time of peace, reflection, and celebration with various traditions, including communal prayers, feasting, and giving to charity, here are the expected dates of Chand Raat and Eid-al-Fitr in India and other nations.
In India, the date of Eid-ul-Fitr 2024 depends on the sighting of the Shawwal moon. This year, the crescent moon is expected to be visible on the evening of April 9, 2024. If the moon is sighted on this day, then Eid will be celebrated on April 10, 2024; otherwise, the festival will be observed on April 11, 2024. The sighting of the crescent moon is a significant religious practice in Islam that serves to establish the date of Eid-al-Fitr.
The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, and as a result, the date of Eid-ul-Fitr shifts approximately 10 to 11 days earlier each year, depending on the sighting of the Shawwal moon, because the lunar calendar is shorter than the solar-based Gregorian calendar that is widely used in India and other parts of the world. Therefore, the date of Eid-ul-Fitr in India is determined by the sighting of the Shawwal moon, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the beginning of the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Chand Raat 2024: Date of Eid-al-Fitr moon sighting in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other nationsIn Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, and the United Kingdom, the Supreme Court has called on all Muslims to sight the new crescent moon on the evening of April 8, 2024, to mark the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the month of Shawwal.
The sighting of the moon in these countries will confirm that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on April 9, 2024. However, if the moon is not sighted on April 8, then the crescent moon will be sought on April 9, and if it is still not sighted, then Eid-ul-Fitr will be observed on April 10, 2024, indicating that Muslims in these countries may observe a 30-day fast this Ramadan instead of 29 days.
The sighting of the Shawwal moon is crucial in determining the date of Eid-ul-Fitr in various countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, the United Kingdom, and Pakistan.
In essence, the sighting of the Eid moon is a time for celebration, unity, and reflection. It is an occasion that brings people together, fosters a sense of spiritual solidarity, and serves as a reminder of the importance of tradition and the preservation of Islamic customs.
