Eid ul-Fitr 2026 Moon Sighting Live Updates: Saudi Arabia, UAE To Celebrate Eid On March 20, When Will India, Pakistan, Bangladesh Celebrate Eid ul-Fitr

Across India, observers are waiting for the Shawwal crescent moon sighting after sunset to confirm the date of Eid al-Fitr. Here's a breakdown of the moonrise and sunset times in key cities:

• Delhi: Moonrise at 6:24 AM IST, moonset at 6:58 PM IST, and sunset at 6:20 PM IST
• Chandigarh: Moonrise at 6:25 AM IST, moonset at 7:01 PM IST, and sunset at 6:20 PM IST
• Mumbai and Navi Mumbai: Moonrise at 6:41-6:42 AM IST, moonset at 7:12 PM IST, and sunset at 6:40 PM IST
• Lucknow: Moonrise at 6:00 AM IST and sunset at 6:05 PM IST
• Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru: Moonrise around 6:30 AM IST, with sunset at approximately 6:20 PM IST (Chennai) and 6:25 PM IST (Bengaluru)
• Kolkata: Moonrise at 6:00 AM IST and sunset at 5:55 PM IST

The crescent moon will be visible shortly after sunset, and if sighted, Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated the following day.

The UAE will not have Eid al-Fitr prayers in open grounds due to measures to ensure public safety amid the US-Iran-Israel war, with them being only within mosques as per reports that cited an announcement from the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat.

The Eid al-Fitr prayer in Dubai will be held at 6:40am with "full readiness" ensured across more than 900 mosques, in coordination with the Dubai Resilience Centre as per an 'X' post from Dubai Media Office.

The Indian Meteorological Department put out a yellow alert for rain in Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram which fall under the National Capital Region. In case of cloudy weather, the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid will depend on testimonies from other states such as Bihar and Karnataka to sight the Shawwal crescent and officially declare Eid ul-Fitr as per reports.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed "advance Eid greetings" to the people of Oman in an 'X' post.  He also said that he had a productive conversation with the Sultan Haitham bin Tariq regarding the safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

He further said that he reiterated India’s condemnation of the violation of Oman’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed 'warm greetings' to Malaysia's PM Anwar Ibrahim on account of 'Hari Raya Aidilfitri' (the name for Eid al-Fitr) in Malaysia. Modi said that the two also disucssed the war situation in the Middle East and reaffirmed commitment for de-escelation through dialogue and diplomacy.

"Chatting with my friend, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, and conveying warm greetings to him and the people of Malaysia on the occasion of the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration. We also discussed the highly concerning situation in West Asia and reaffirmed our shared commitment to de-escalate tensions and restore peace and stability as soon as possible through dialogue and diplomacy," PM Modi said in an 'X' post.

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump extended their best wises on account of Eid al-Fitr in the form of a presidential message.

"The First Lady and I send our best wishes to every American celebrating Eid al-Fitr.

Eid al-Fitr, also known as the Festival of Breaking the Fast, unites Muslim families, friends, and communities in honor of their spiritual devotion at the conclusion of Ramadan.  It also serves as a reminder of the foundational American principle of religious liberty, which my Administration is fighting for every day.

We offer our warmest greetings for a blessed Eid al-Fitr to all who celebrate," the message said.

There are two major iterations of the Eid festival known as Eid al-Adha and Eid ul-Fitr. Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar and focuses on ritual sacrifice of livestock. The meat is then distributed amongst family, friends, relatives and the poor. It is often considred to be the greater of the two in many countries.

Eid ul-Fitr, falls on the first day of the tenth month (known as Shawwal) of the Islamic calendar and focuses on ending the sacred month of Ramadan when muslims fast-from dawn to dusk and break their fast with a feast on Shawwal when they sight the crescent moon.

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Oman, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritania are yet to finalse the date for the celebration of Eid Ul-Fitr as they have not yet sighted the Shawwal crecent moon.

Bangladesh's authorities have deployed heightened security measures, including increased police presence, CCTV surveillance and mobile courts, while restricting heavy vehicles on highways to ease congestion during peak travel days. Dhaka saw sparsely populated roads and streets owing to a "pre-Eid-ul-Fitr exodus".

Bangladesh is among the countries that have not yet finalised their dates for Eid-Ul-Fitr as the Shawwal crescent has not yet been sighted.

(Source: All India Radio)

Makkah experienced rain on the 30th and last day of Ramadan, which is considered a blessing. Watch video here:

Islam follows a lunar calendar and so Ramadan and Eid cycle through the seasons. This year, the first day of Eid ul-Fitr is expected to be on or around March 20. The actual date may vary among countries and Muslim communities.
 

Gulf countries' residents will enjoy a four-day Eid break, starting from Thursday, March 19, till Sunday, March 22, according to Khaleej Times.

Women display intricate mehendi designs ahead of Eid al-Fitr during Ramzan, in Bengaluru. (Photo: PTI)

In a Beirut school sheltering hundreds of people, some tried to recapture a taste of Ramadan's traditions and the lives they left behind. Hallways between classrooms were adorned with decorations. One family placed a small gas burner and some meal packages from charities on a few desks lined up together.

Qatar has also announced that this year's Eid Al Fitr prayers will be held indoors at mosques across the country. Unfazed, though, ladies are flocking to malls and shopping complexes to do some last-minute shopping.

Rulers and government officials have been exchanging Eid greetings, and authorities are working overtime to ensure everything goes smoothly, despite the additional and onerous task of securing the skies.

As Eid ushers in, authorities are leaving no stone unturned to ensure a smooth celebration amid a subdued sense of festivity.

The UAE has announced that this year's Eid-ul-Fitr prayers will be held exclusively "inside mosques, instead of the traditional outdoor gatherings, in light of regional security concerns."

According to the UAE’s General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments (GAIAE), the decision "aims to ensure the safety and security of worshippers."

Eid ul-Fitr is an Islamic holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the month when devout Muslims fast daily from dawn to sunset. Ramadan is a time for increased worship, charity and good deeds, and typically sees festive gatherings to break the fast. Eid ul-Fitr means the feast, or festival, of breaking the fast.

Muslims around the world are bidding farewell to the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and will soon start celebrating the holiday of Eid ul-Fitr. Eid is typically greeted with joy and excitement and is marked with congregational prayers and festivities that usually include family visits, gatherings, outings and new clothes.

In Saudi Arabia, Eid ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Friday, March 20 while in India, the date is March 21 which is a Saturday.