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Astronomical projections expect Eid Al Fitr, the festival that officially ends the holy month of Ramadan, to be celebrated this year in Morocco on March 31.
Ibrahim Akhyam, a researcher in the science of timekeeping and a member of the Islamic Moon Sighting Project, told Morocco World News (MWN) that this Ramadan is unlikely to last 30 days. This means that Eid Al Fitr will fall on March 31, he argued.
Akhyam stressed, however, that the astronomical calculations serve as a “scientific preliminary for the sighting.” As he noted, the “officially recognized method in Morocco remains the legitimate visual sighting as confirmed by the official authorities.”
Morocco’s Islamic Affairs will dedicate a team of religious authorities to sighting the crescent moon for Eid Al Fitr, likely on Saturday or Sunday this week.
Eid Al Fitr is another sacred celebration in Morocco when families gather around a breakfast table with different food and Moroccan pastries.
The festival is a special social occasion, especially for children who wear new clothes and receive gifts, including cash.
They also go out to the streets to play and show off their festive attire.
Eid is also a time when Moroccans celebrate a few days off as a holiday, which allows people who live outside of their hometown to travel back and enjoy the festivities with their families.
Many reports suggest that Saudi Arabia and other countries will also celebrate Eid Fitr on Sunday or Monday, depending on moon sighting results.
The sighting will determine whether Ramadan will last 29 or 30 days this year.
