Crescent moon not sighted; Id to be celebrated across India, except Kerala, on March 21

Id-ul-Fitr, which marks the culmination of the fasting month of Ramzan, will be celebrated on Saturday (March 21, 2026) across the country except Kerala as the moon was not sighted this evening.

Fatehpuri Masjid Imam Mufti Mukarram Ahmad told PTI that the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of the mosque contacted many places and was informed that the moon was not sighted.

Id will be celebrated in the country on Saturday (March 21, 2026), he said. However, the festival will be celebrated in Kerala on Friday (March 20, 2026).

The Shawwal moon was sighted at Chettippadi in Parappanangadi, clerics in Kerala said.

Following the sighting of the crescent moon, prominent clerics including Panakkad Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, Sayyid Jifri Muthukkoya Thangal, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, and Sayyid Ibrahim Khaleelul Bukhari announced that Friday will be the first day of Shawwal, marking the celebration of Id.

Describing Id as a festival of brotherhood and harmony, Ahmad said, “On this occasion, we pray that brotherhood and harmony in the country continues to prosper and is strengthened with love.” Naib Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid Syed Shaban Bukhari also declared that the moon was not sighted and Id would be celebrated on March 21.

He said Friday (March 20, 2026) would be the last day of Ramzan and the 30th fasting day.

Id-ul-Fitr 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.