Eid al Fitr likely to fall on April 10 in Oman, notes astronomical society

The anticipated date for Eid al Fitr, the festival marking the end of Ramadan, is being debated upon with great fervour as the visibility of the Moon and its position in the night sky, could be impacted by the April 8 solar eclipse.

Eid al Fitr

According to astronomical data, there is a high probability that the first day of Eid al Fitr will be observed on April 10 in Oman, notes Abdulwahab al Busaidy, head of Observatory at Oman Astronomical Society .

Al Busaidy was quoted by Oman Observer, and provided insights into the expected date, stating, “There is a 99.9 per cent chance that Eid al Fitr will fall on Wednesday, April 10.”

He further explained the basis for this prediction, noting that the crescent moon will be visible on April 9 shortly after sunset, paving the way for Eid celebrations the following day.

Importantly, this forecast aligns with expectations across neighbouring and other Islamic and Arab countries. Al Busaidy emphasised, “My expectation is that most Muslim countries will celebrate Eid al Fitr on April 10.”

Sighting the Moon

The extended visibility of the crescent moon after sunset plays a crucial role in determining the date for Eid al Fitr.

Al Busaidy elaborated, stating, “The moon will be on the horizon for up to 50 minutes after sunset. That is a very long time, and elimination will be 1.2 per cent. This indicates the crescent will be visibile even with the naked eye.”

Eid al Fitr holds significant cultural and religious importance in the Islamic calendar, with preparations for the festival beginning weeks in advance.

The festival marks the end of the period of fasting of the holy month of Ramadan and is celebrated on the first day of the Shawwal month, according to the Islamic Hijri calendar.

Countries across the GCC mark the occasion with a long holiday.

In Oman, both government and private sectors enjoy the same number of holidays in a calendar year and hence workers are anticipating a 5-day Eid holiday.

UAE holidays

The UAE government announced public holidays from Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3. According to the Gregorian calendar, this spans from April 9 to April 12 but the new forecast could bring an additional day to the long weekend ensuring a 9-day break for Eid Al Fitr. The official Eid date depends on the actual spotting the Moon.