Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, May 17 

The crescent moon marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah was sighted in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday evening, prompting religious authorities to announce that Eid-ul-Adha would be celebrated in the region on May 27.

Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam Farooqi, the Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, said testimonies regarding the moon sighting were received from several parts of the region after sunset on Sunday, corresponding to the 29th day of Dhul Qadah in the Islamic calendar.

He said Monday, May 18, would be observed as the first day of Dhul Hijjah.

Speaking to local media, the Grand Mufti said the decision was taken after verification of testimonies received from different areas through the region’s Ruet-e-Hilal committee network.

He said the J&K Anjuman-e-Sharia Shian also coordinated with the central moon-sighting committee during the verification process.

The Grand Mufti urged people to observe Eid-ul-Adha with simplicity and compassion and appealed to residents to support underprivileged families during the festival.

“The distribution of sacrificial meat should be carried out in a fair and responsible manner,” he said, adding that poor families should also be able to celebrate the festival with dignity.

He also called on residents to maintain sanitation and hygiene during Eid celebrations and advised against performing animal sacrifices on roads or in public spaces.

Animal remains should be disposed of respectfully by burying them in properly dug pits and should not be thrown into rivers, streams or other water bodies, he said.

Meanwhile, religious authorities in most other parts of India said the crescent moon was not sighted on Sunday evening, meaning Eid-ul-Adha would likely be observed there on May 28.

According to media reports, the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid said the moon had not been sighted in Delhi on Sunday.

The Markazi Rooyat-e-Hilal Committee of Masjid-e-Nakhoda in Kolkata and the Markazi Ruyath-e-Hilal Committee in Karnataka also reported non-sighting of the crescent and said Eid-ul-Adha would be celebrated on May 28 after completion of 30 days of Dhul Qa’dah.

Markazi Darul Ifta Bareilly Sharif similarly said no confirmed reports of the moon sighting had been received from Bareilly or other parts of the country on Sunday.