Srinagar, Feb 16 — The Islamic holy month of Ramadan is expected to begin on February 18 or 19, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon, marking the start of a period of fasting, prayer, and reflection for Muslims worldwide.
Ramadan lasts 29 or 30 days, during which observant Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk — typically for 12 to 15 hours a day — depending on geographic location and daylight hours.
Muslims believe Ramadan commemorates the period when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) more than 1,400 years ago. Fasting during the month also involves abstaining from smoking and sexual relations during daylight hours, with the aim of attaining greater taqwa, or consciousness of God.
Ramadan begins about 10 to 12 days earlier each year because the Islamic calendar follows the lunar Hijri system, in which months are either 29 or 30 days long. As the lunar year is around 11 days shorter than the solar year, Ramadan moves steadily backward through the seasons.
Because of this shift, Ramadan will be observed twice in 2030 — first beginning around January 5 and again around December 26.
For nearly 90 percent of the world’s population living in the Northern Hemisphere, fasting hours will be slightly shorter this year and will continue to decrease annually until 2031, when Ramadan will coincide with the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.
In contrast, Muslims living south of the equator will experience longer fasting hours than last year, as Ramadan falls during the southern summer.
This year, fasting durations in the Northern Hemisphere are expected to last around 12 to 13 hours on the first day, gradually increasing as the month progresses. In southern countries such as Chile, New Zealand and South Africa, fasts are likely to last about 14 to 15 hours at the start of the month, decreasing toward the end.
The exact timing of suhoor (pre-dawn meal) and iftar (breaking of the fast) varies by city and will be determined locally based on sunrise and sunset.