SRINAGAR: Authorities in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday announced that the crescent moon marking the beginning of Shawwal was not sighted, confirming that Eid al-Fitr will be observed on Friday, March 20.
With the non-sighting of the Shawwal crescent, the holy month of Ramadan will complete 30 days, officials said, adding that Thursday will be the final day of fasting across the Kingdom.
The announcement follows traditional moon-sighting procedures conducted at designated observatories and committees across Saudi Arabia, whose decisions are closely followed by several countries in the region.
Eid al-Fitr, one of the most significant Islamic festivals, marks the end of Ramadan and is celebrated with congregational prayers, charity, and family gatherings.
Following the announcement, preparations for Eid have intensified across Saudi Arabia, with markets witnessing increased activity as people make last-minute purchases for the festival.
Other countries, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, are expected to conduct their own moon-sighting on Thursday evening to determine the date of Eid in their respective regions.
