New Delhi: Ramzan, the holy month of fasting for Muslims, will begin from Monday as the new moon could not be sighted anywhere in the country on Saturday.
Maulana Mufti Mukarram Ahmed, President of Fatehpuri Royat Hilal Committee and Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri Mosque, announced that since the new moon was not sighted today, the month of Ramzan will start from Monday.
If the new moon would have been sighted today, Ramzan would have started tomorrow. But as that did not happen, tomorrow (Saturday) will be the last day of Shaban month - eighth month of the Islamic calendar - and Monday, June 30 will be the first day of Ramzan.
Ramzan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is observed as a fasting period by Muslims, who abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset.
Muslims wake up early morning for the pre-dawn 'sehri' meal renouncing food and water during the day before breaking their fasts in the evening. The sumptuous evening meals are known as 'iftaars'.
The month-long fasting will culminate in the Id-ul-Fitr celebrations next month.
As Islam follows a lunar calendar, the holy month begins every year about 11 days earlier and its commencement is traditionally determined by the appearance of the new moon.
