Id-ul-Fitr celebrated on first day of Shawwal

Muslims in the city ended their month-long Ramzan fasting and celebrated Id-ul-Fitr on Thursday by offering special prayers in mosques, exchanging greetings by embracing each other, doling out alms, feeding the poor and treating themselves with sumptuous festival dishes.

The Islamic calendar consists of 12 months — Muharram, Safar, Rabia Awal, Rabia Thani, Jumaada Awal, Jumaada Thani, Rajab, Shabaan, Ramzan, Shawwal, Dhul Qidah and Dhul Hijjah and it is ordained upon every Muslim above the age of seven to fast from dawn to dusk during Ramzan. Fasting, called Sawm in Arabic, is one of the five tenets of Islam with the other four being Shahada (acceptance of the principle that there is no God but Allah and Mohamed is His prophet), Salaat (offering prayers), Zakat (charity) and performing Haj (pilgrimage to Mecca in the month of Dhul Hijjah).

Id-ul-Fitr is usually celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the month succeeding Ramzan, though at times it could be celebrated even on the last day of Ramzan if the crescent is sighted on the previous day since Muslims follow a lunar calendar called Hijri which began in 622 A.D.

The corresponding Hijri year for 2016 is 1437 and the lunar calendar has only 354 or 355 days as against 365 days in the Gregorian calendar.

Muslims would celebrate their second most important festival Id-ul-zuha, also called Bakrid, on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah which falls on September 13.

Their New Year marking the beginning of Hijri 1438 would be celebrated on the first day of the first Islamic month Muharram on October 3 this year.