New Delhi, August 5: Eid al-Adha or Eid ul-Azha is one of the two festivals of Muslims. Eid al-Adha, also known as Bakrid in the Indian subcontinent, is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah month. In India, Muslims observed moon sighting for Dhu al-Hijjah month on August 2. Despite a sighting of the moon in different parts of India, there was some confusion regarding the date for Eid al-Adha festival.

Under the Islamic lunar calendar, a new month begins upon the sighting of a crescent moon on the 29th day of the ongoing month. If the moon is not sighted, the month completes 30 days and a new month begins the next day. On August 2 which marked 29th of Dhul Qadah month, Muslims looked for the moon in the evening. The moon was sighted in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra and different parts of other states. Eid al-Adha to be Celebrated in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kerala on August 11.

Since the moon was sighted on August 2, Eid al-Adha will be celebrated on August 12 in India except in Kerala. While Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, which runs Asia's largest Islamic seminary Darul Uloom, declared August 12 as the first day of Bakrid, clerics of Barelvi school of thoughts had initially said the festival would be celebrated on August 13 as the moon was not spotted in several parts of the country. They waited for testimonies of those who sighted the moon and later declared that Eid al-Adha will be celebrated on August 12.

To celebrate Eid al-Adha, Muslims offer animal sacrifice and distribute its meat to the poor. They also undertake the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca during Dhu al-Hijjah month.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 05, 2019 09:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).