India, Bangladesh and Brunei to mark Eid Al Adha a day later

Countries including India, Bangladesh, Brunei and South Africa have announced that Eid Al Adha will be observed on Thursday, a day later than in most Arab and Muslim-majority nations.

The decision follows differing determinations over the sighting of the crescent moon marking the start of Dhul Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar.

Religious authorities in the four countries said Tuesday, 19 May, was confirmed as the first day of Dhul Hijjah. Under that calendar, the Day of Arafat will fall on Wednesday, 27 May, with Eid Al Adha beginning on Thursday, 28 May.

In much of the Arab world, however, Eid Al Adha will be celebrated on Wednesday after official moon-sighting announcements aligned with Saudi Arabia’s declaration.

According to the International Astronomical Center, more than 28 Arab and Islamic countries, as well as Muslim communities in several Western nations, are expected to observe Eid on Wednesday, 27 May.

Those countries include the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan and Malaysia, alongside Muslim communities in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Astronomers say such differences occur regularly because countries rely on varying methods to determine the start of lunar months. Some nations depend primarily on traditional naked-eye moon sightings, while others incorporate astronomical calculations alongside visual observations.

Geographical conditions and differences in visibility across regions also contribute to the variation, meaning major Islamic observances can occasionally fall on different days around the world.