RIYADH – Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated on August 21, 2018 whereas Youm-e-Arafat (also known as Youm-e-Arafah), will be on Monday August 20, 2018, the Saudi Supreme Court announced after the Dhul Hijjah moon was sighted on Saturday, corresponding to 29th of Dhulka’edah 1439 AH.
The Eid-ul-Azha holiday will last for 11 days in the Islamic kingdom this year.
The second holiest festival of Muslims around the world is celebrated on 10th of Dhul Hijjah and the first day of Haj ritual – Youm-e-Arafah, the standing on the Plains of Arafat is held on a day before on 9th of Dhul Hijjah.
Youm e Arafat 2018 (Youme Arafah) is 9th day of Dhul Hijjah when more than 2.5 million Muslims from around the world will gather on the plains of Mount Arafat to perform Hajj.
Muslims in Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Kuwait, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Russia, United States, Britain and other countries will also decide today when Eid-ul-Azha 2018 will be celebrated in these countries.
Haj and Eid-ul-Azha ( also known as Bakra Eid, Eid ul Azha and Eiduz Zuha in the subcontinent) are celebrated to commemorate the sacrifices made by Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH), his noble wife Hajira and their son Prophet Ismael (PBUH).
Turkey, UAE, Kuwait, Pakistan and Bangladesh celebrated a nine-day public holiday in 2017. In India and the Philippines also Eid-ul-Azha is declared a public holiday.
In India and Pakistan, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet tomorrow (Sunday) to decide about the sighting of the Dhul Hajjah moon.
A decision on Muslim festivals Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha is based on lunar system. As per this system, the first day of a new month is decided if moon is sighted on 29th day of the preceding month.
