Srinagar, March 31 — Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid ul-Fitr, the festival that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
While Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and several other Middle Eastern nations observed the festival on Sunday, March 30, 2025, countries in South Asia, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, are celebrating it on Monday, March 31, 2025.
Muslims in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany also marked Eid on Sunday, following the sighting of the crescent moon.
The difference in dates depends on the sighting of the new moon, which determines the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal.
In Saudi Arabia, large congregations gathered at the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s (PBUH) Mosque in Medina for early morning prayers.
The festive atmosphere extended across the Gulf region, with public celebrations, fireworks, and family gatherings. Similarly, in Turkey and Egypt, millions offered prayers at historic mosques, followed by communal feasts and cultural events.
Meanwhile, in South Asia, where the moon was not sighted until a day later, Eid is being celebrated on Monday.
In India, streets and markets filled with revelers purchasing sweets, new clothes, and gifts.
In Kashmir, large congregational prayers were witnessed at Dargah Hazratbal, with prayers barred at Jamia Masjid and Eidgah Srinagar.
Eid ul-Fitr, often referred to as the "Festival of Breaking the Fast," holds deep religious and cultural significance. It marks the conclusion of Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection observed by Muslims worldwide. During this period, adherents refrain from food, drink, and other physical needs from dawn until sunset, devoting themselves to spiritual discipline, charity, and self-restraint.
As the crescent moon is sighted, signaling the end of Ramadan, Muslims gather for communal prayers at mosques and open grounds.
Worshippers don new or traditional attire and visit family and friends, exchanging greetings of Eid Mubarak (Blessed Eid). The day is also marked by the giving of Zakat al-Fitr, a form of charity meant to assist the less fortunate, ensuring that everyone can partake in the celebrations.