New Delhi, March 19: Search for 'Ramadan 2019 India date' and 'Ramzan Eid 2019 date' have begun on the internet as Shaban month of the Islamic lunar calendar is near to start. According to the Islamic calendar, Ramadan month will begin from the first week of May 2019 and Eid or Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated in the first week of June 2019. The final date for the start of Ramadan and Eid will be decided based on moon sighting.

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. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, begins after Shaban. Today on March 19, it is 11th of Rajab, the seventh month. If we assume, the moon will be sighted on 29th of Rajab and  29th of Shaban as well, then Ramadan will begin from 6 May 2019. Bakra Eid: Significance And Religious History of Eid-ul-Adha.

If Ramadan begins from May 6 and the moon is sighted on 29th of Ramadan, then Eid will be celebrated on June 4. If Ramadan begins on May 6 and the fasting month completes 30 days, then Eid will be celebrated on June 5. These dates may vary if a crescent moon remains invisible on the above-mentioned dates. Eid after the completion of Ramadan is the first among the two major festivals celebrated by the Muslim population across the globe -- the other being Eid al-Adha.

Fasting in Ramadan is the fourth of the five pillars of Islam and is intended to help teach Muslims self-discipline, self-restraint and generosity. The fasting begins from sunrise and ends at sunset. During Ramadan, 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 evening meals are known as Iftar.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 19, 2019 01:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).