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Saudi Arabia Sets Eid al-Fitr for March 20 as Afghanistan Celebrates on March 19 and South Asia Awaits Moon Rulings

Differing dates reflect local crescent visibility and witness-based rulings, with several Gulf states following Saudi Arabia and national committees in India and Pakistan preparing evening reviews.

Overview

  • Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court declared Eid on Friday after no verified Shawwal sightings, with observatories reporting cloudy skies and Ramadan completing 30 days.
  • Afghanistan’s Supreme Court confirmed Eid for Thursday based on accepted witness testimony from provinces including Farah, Helmand and Ghor.
  • Authorities in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Turkey and Lebanon set Eid for March 20 in line with Saudi Arabia, and Gulf governments issued holiday and safety guidance.
  • In India, local moon‑sighting bodies will decide tonight whether Eid falls on March 20 or 21, and senior clerics have urged worshippers not to tie the festival to political protests.
  • Pakistan’s Central Ruet‑e‑Hilal Committee meets this evening, with experts saying a roughly 12‑hour‑old moon makes sighting unlikely; the government has declared March 20–21 public holidays.