Eid ul-Fitr 2024: Pakistan to Celebrate on Saturday, Global Festivities & Updates
Millions across the globe marked Eid al-Fitr, the festival celebrating the end of Ramadan, though observances were staggered across Friday and Saturday, reflecting differing moon-sighting confirmations. While Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and several other nations began celebrations on Friday, Pakistan confirmed the sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon on Saturday, setting its Eid observance for the following day.
In Saudi Arabia, the focal point of celebrations was the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, where vast congregations gathered for Eid prayers. King Salman bin Abdulaziz extended greetings to Muslims worldwide, emphasizing his commitment to global peace, stability, and the unity of the Muslim community, according to state media reports. The King too highlighted Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to address regional crises and ensure the safety of its borders.
The festivities, still, unfolded against a backdrop of regional tensions. Reports indicate that Israeli forces restricted Palestinian access to prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, leading to heightened tensions. In Lebanon, the observance of Eid was overshadowed by ongoing Israeli military actions. Iran, meanwhile, is scheduled to celebrate Eid on Sunday.
Beyond the Middle East, Eid was observed on Friday in Turkey, Yemen, Palestine, Iraq, and Australia. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined worshippers at a mosque in Sydney, participating in the celebrations with the local Muslim community. Similar observances took place in the United States and across Europe, with variations in timing based on local moon-sighting practices.
In Russia, preparations for Eid celebrations culminated in large gatherings at mosques in Moscow. The central Eid prayer was held at the Moscow Cathedral Mosque, led by Ravil Gaynutdin, with additional congregations taking place at historic mosques throughout the city. Authorities arranged expanded prayer spaces to accommodate the anticipated number of attendees, reflecting the growing Muslim population in the region.
The differing dates for the start of Eid al-Fitr underscore the reliance on local moon-sighting confirmations, a traditional method for determining the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar. This practice often results in variations in observance across different countries and regions, as confirmed by the Wikipedia entry for Eid al-Fitr.