Muslims gear up for major festival

PHUKET: The sighting of the new moon will signal the end of the Ramadan fasting month and usher in Eid-al Fitr celebrations, as well as the start of Shawwal fasts.

Eid-al Fitr is one of the most important days for practicing Muslims, as it marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

“This year all mosques in Phuket, and throughout Thailand, will mark Eid-al Fitr either on Friday or Saturday depending on the announcement of the new moon sighting by Central Islamic Council of Thailand in Bangkok,” said Piyadet Chuachalad, secretary of the Phuket Islamic Committee.

“We are connected to all the imams in Thailand, so should they sight the new moon they will report it to the Central Islamic Council of Thailand in Bangkok.”

The sighting of the moon is the traditional requisite for proclaiming the arrival of a new month in the Islamic lunar calendar.

On the morning of Eid-al Fitr, Muslims visit mosque for prayer. After praying, it is traditional to make amends with everyone around you, to apologize for wrongdoing and to forgive each other. After amends are made, everyone enjoys a big meal.

The rest of the day is spent visiting nearby relatives and enjoying meals together.

Muslims across the world have been waiting for Eid-al Fitr after a stringent month-long fast during which they do not eat, drink or engage in sexual activity from sunrise to sunset.

— Nichana Madsatool