When will Eid be celebrated? :Eid-ul-Fitr—also known as Meethi Eid (Sweet Eid)—is the most significant festival in Islam. Eid is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal (the 10th month of the Islamic calendar). However, according to the Gregorian calendar, the date of Eid varies from year to year. Furthermore, uncertainty regarding exactly when Eid will be celebrated often persists right up until the final day of Ramadan. This is because the official date is announced only after the new moon of Shawwal has been sighted.
When is Eid in 2026? March 20 or 21—when will Eid-ul-Fitr be celebrated in India?
The holy month of Ramadan began on February 19, 2026, and is now gradually drawing toward its conclusion. During the final days of Ramadan, people across the globe keep their eyes fixed on the sky, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the moon. Eid is celebrated on the day following the sighting of the moon.
Typically, Eid is celebrated after the completion of 29 or 30 days of fasting during Ramadan. If the moon is sighted on the 29th day of Ramadan, Eid is celebrated the following day. If the moon is not sighted, people complete 30 days of fasting before celebrating Eid. This year, the month of Ramadan began on February 19. Consequently, there is some confusion among people regarding whether Eid will be celebrated on March 20 or March 21. Let us find out what the date of Eid will be in India.
Eid-ul-Fitr in India:
According to Islamic religious scholars and experts, Eid in India is likely to be celebrated on March 21. However, the final date is determined only after the sighting of the new moon of Shawwal. Often, the date of Eid in India is also decided based on the dates observed in Arab countries. Typically, Eid in India is celebrated one day after it is observed in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, if Eid is celebrated in Saudi Arabia on the 19th, it will fall on March 20 in India; conversely, if Eid takes place in Saudi Arabia on March 20, it is likely to be celebrated in India on March 21.
Possibility of Eid Falling on March 20, 2026, in India:
The likelihood of Eid being celebrated in India on March 20 is quite low. The primary reason for this is geographical positioning. According to Sameeruddin Qasmi, an expert in Islamic astronomy: On Thursday, March 19, the altitude of the moon in India will be 5 degrees, and its age will be 11 hours and 56 minutes. In Burma, this figure stands at 4 degrees; in Bangladesh, 4 degrees; in Nepal, 4 degrees; in Karachi, 5 degrees; in Peshawar, 5 degrees; in Iran, 5 degrees; and in Afghanistan, 5 degrees. Since the moon is typically visible at an altitude of 10 degrees—whereas here it is at only 4 or 5 degrees—the probability of the moon being sighted in India on Thursday, March 19, is quite low.
On March 20, 2026, the altitude of the moon in India will be 18 degrees, and its age will be 35 hours and 57 minutes. In Burma, this figure is 17 degrees; in Bangladesh, 17 degrees; in Nepal, 18 degrees; in Karachi, 18 degrees; in Peshawar, 19 degrees; in Iran, 19 degrees; and in Afghanistan, 18 degrees. In these regions, the altitude of the moon exceeds 10 degrees. Therefore, there is a likelihood of the moon being sighted on March 20, and Eid may be celebrated on March 21 in all these countries, including India.
