First Day of Hajj on August 19 as Dhul Hijjah Begins From Today, Bakra Eid to be Celebrated on August 21
It was confirmed that the first day of the Hajj pilgrimage will be next Sunday.
Riyadh, Aug 12: After the crescent moon was sighted, Saudi Arabia on Saturday declared that Sunday August 12 will mark the start of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th month in the Islamic calendar. It was also confirmed that the first day of the Hajj pilgrimage will be next Sunday, August 19 and Bakra Eid or Eid al-Adha will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 21.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court announced that Sunday August 12 marks the start of Dhul Hijjah. The first day of Hajj falls on 8th Dhul Hijjah that will start from the evening of August 19. On the first day of Hajj, pilgrims, who arrive in Mecca, don the ihram garments and confirm their intention to make the pilgrimage.
Wearing ihram means the pilgrim enters the state of holiness. The ihram is meant to show equality of all pilgrims in front of God. The prohibitions of ihram start from the first day of Hajj. Eid al-Adha will be celebrated in KSA, Middle East and the West on August 21, whereas, the eastern part of the word, including the Indian subcontinent, will celebrate the festival on August 22.
In India, Muslims will attempt to sight the crescent moon this evening. If the moon is sighted, the Dhul Hijjah month will begin from August 13 (Monday). Therefore, Bakra Eid will be on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah month, which is August 22.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 12, 2018 10:22 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).