So when is, or was, Eid-ul-Fitr?

MUMBAI: Confusion reigned across the country over the sighting of the moon that heralds Eid-ul-Fitr. Kerala celebrated the festival on Monday. In Delhi, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, people exchanged Eid greetings on Tuesday. In Maharashtra today marks the end of Ramzan.

A specially formed group in every city, called the Ruet-e-Hilal committee, is entrusted with the task of sighting the moon. When a member spots the moon and corroborates the sighting with evidence, the Sunnis begin festivities. The Shias, however, celebrated Eid on Tuesday in accordance with the lunar calendar.

“Sunnis will celebrate Eid on Wednesday irrespective of the lunar status since the 30-day fasting period ends on Tuesday,” said Maulana Khalil Rehman, secretary of the All-India Ulema Council.

Asghar Ali Engineer, an Islamic scholar, said the time had come to deploy modern technology to sight the moon. “Often, the new moon is not visible due to cloud cover, or the altitude,” he said.