Why Kerala is celebrating Eid today while the rest of India waits a day longer

This year, Kerala celebrates Eid-ul-Fitr a day earlier than the rest of India due to differing moon sighting reports.

Updated on: Mar 20, 2026, 09:39:18 IST

Written by Yamini C S

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As millions across India prepare to mark Eid-ul-Fitr, there’s a rare calendar split this year – Kerala is celebrating today, while the rest of the country will observe the festival tomorrow. The reason comes down to one simple, centuries-old practice: moon sighting. Kerala saw the moon, the rest of India didn’t.

While the crescent moon was spotted in Kerala, other regions in India remain in Ramadan a day longer, celebrating Eid on Saturday. (Unsplash/ Representational)

In Kerala, religious authorities confirmed that the Shawwal crescent moon was spotted on Thursday evening in parts of the state, including coastal regions. With the sighting verified, clerics announced that Friday would mark the beginning of Shawwal – the Islamic month that starts with Eid celebrations, as per a report by news agency PTI.

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However, in most other parts of India, including Delhi and northern states, committees tasked with tracking the moon reported no confirmed sightings. As a result, Friday remains the final day of Ramzan for these regions, pushing Eid celebrations to Saturday.

Why this happens

Unlike fixed-date festivals, Ramadan and Eid follow the lunar Islamic calendar, which depends entirely on the visibility of the crescent moon. Since moon sightings can vary by geography and weather conditions, different regions sometimes begin and end months on different days.

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A longer month of fasting for many

Because the moon wasn’t seen in most parts of India, Muslims outside Kerala will complete 30 days of fasting this year before celebrating Eid. In contrast, Kerala’s confirmed sighting brings Ramzan to a close a day earlier. The month of Ramzan comprised 29 days last year.

Spirit remains the same

Despite the difference in dates, the essence of Eid remains unchanged – a time for prayer, gratitude, charity, and togetherness. During the month of Ramzan, Islam followers observe a fast from sunrise to sunset.

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Religious leaders have also emphasised the festival’s message of unity, even as celebrations unfold on different days across the country. Fatehpuri Masjid Imam Mufti Mukarram Ahmad spoke to reporters and said, “On this occasion, we pray that brotherhood and harmony in the country continues to prosper and is strengthened with love.”

So while Kerala begins festivities today, the rest of India will join in tomorrow, united in spirit, just a day apart on the calendar.

(With inputs from PTI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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