About Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr, called Ramzan Eid in much of India and Cheriya Perunnal in Kerala, is the Muslim festival that ends the month-long Ramadan fast on the first day of Shawwal. In 2027 it is expected on Wednesday, 10 March 2027, but the final date depends on the new crescent moon being sighted the evening before, so it can shift by a day and differ between regions. It begins with a congregational prayer and charity to the poor, followed by visits, new clothes and sweet dishes.
Eid al-Fitr is one day in the Islamic calendar, but in Indian homes it starts the night before. Once the new moon is announced, markets stay open late for last-minute clothes, bangles and mehendi, kitchens start on the vermicelli, and phones fill with "Chand Mubarak" before the Eid messages begin.
How is the date of Eid al-Fitr decided in India?
The date of Eid al-Fitr is decided by sighting the thin crescent moon that begins Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. On the evening of the 29th day of Ramadan, people and committees look for the moon after sunset. If it is seen, Eid is the next day. If it is not, Ramadan runs to 30 days and Eid follows the day after that. Because the Islamic year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, Eid moves earlier each Gregorian year and passes through every season over about 33 years.
India has no single national authority for this. Announcements come from regional bodies and senior clerics, and they can differ. In 2024, clerics in Kerala and the Grand Mufti in Kashmir said the Shawwal moon had been seen, so Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh celebrated Eid on Wednesday 10 April. The imam of Delhi's Fatehpuri Masjid and Lucknow's Markazi Chand Committee said it had not been sighted, so most of India celebrated on 11 April. In 2025 the Central Moon Sighting Committee in Lucknow, the Grand Mufti in Kashmir and Telangana's authorities all confirmed the moon on the same evening, and Eid fell on 31 March almost everywhere.
The government lists Id-ul-Fitr as a compulsory holiday for central government offices. Its notice for the year notes that the date may shift with moon sighting and that any change is announced at short notice.
What happens on the day of Eid al-Fitr?
Eid al-Fitr begins with a morning prayer, and the rest of the day belongs to family and food. The order is fairly consistent across India, though timings and local customs vary.
- Chand RaatThe moon is announced
Families finish shopping, apply mehendi and start cooking for the morning.
- Before the prayerFitra is paid
Zakat al-Fitr, or fitra, is a fixed charity paid for every member of the household. It must reach the poor before the Eid prayer so they can celebrate too.
- MorningEid namaz
Men and boys, and in many places women, go to an eidgah or large mosque for a special two-rakat congregational prayer followed by a sermon. Hyderabad's Mir Alam Eidgah and Makkah Masjid and Lucknow's Eidgah draw some of the largest gatherings.
- After the prayerEmbraces and visits
People greet each other with "Eid Mubarak" and an embrace, then visit elders, relatives and neighbours. Many also visit family graves.
- Through the dayFood and Eidi
Sweet vermicelli is on almost every table. Elders hand children Eidi, a gift of money.
Fasting is forbidden on the day of Eid itself, which is why the first thing many families do in the morning is eat something sweet. The Eid prayer also differs slightly between schools of Islamic law: in the Hanafi tradition followed by most Sunni Muslims in north India, three extra calls of "Allahu Akbar" are added in each of the two units of prayer.
How is Eid al-Fitr different from Bakrid?
Eid al-Fitr and Bakrid are the two Eids of the Islamic year, and Indian names for them often point to the difference. Across north India people call Eid al-Fitr "Meethi Eid", the sweet Eid, after the vermicelli dishes. In Kerala, the Mappila Muslim community calls it Cheriya Perunnal, "the small festival", and Bakrid Valiya Perunnal, "the big festival".
| Feature | Eid al-Fitr | Eid al-Adha (Bakrid) |
|---|---|---|
| Islamic date | 1 Shawwal | 10 Dhul Hijjah, about 70 days later |
| What it marks | The end of the Ramadan fast | The sacrifice of Ibrahim, during the Hajj season |
| Charity | Fitra, paid before the Eid prayer | Meat from the sacrifice shared with the poor and relatives |
| Signature food | Sheer khurma, sewaiyan; pathiri and biryani in Kerala | Meat dishes from the sacrifice |
| Kerala name | Cheriya Perunnal | Valiya Perunnal |
In Kerala, Eid is also a day for neighbours of every faith to be invited in to eat, and in rural Malabar you may still see Mappila art forms such as oppana performed for the festival.
How should you wish someone on Eid al-Fitr?
Wish someone on Eid al-Fitr with "Eid Mubarak", which means "blessed Eid" and works from anyone, Muslim or not. The usual reply is "Khair Mubarak", roughly "blessings to you too". Messages land best when they mention the month that has just ended: the fasts, the late-night prayers, the iftars.
Eid Mubarak! Thirty days of fasting and you still cooked for all of us at iftar. Save me some sheer khurma this time.
Eid Mubarak to you and your family. I hope today is full of good food, long visits and a well-earned rest after Ramadan.
Eid Mubarak, Ammi and Abbu. May Allah accept your fasts and prayers, and keep our home together like this every year.
Eid Mubarak from all of us. We know it's not the same without your mother's sewaiyan. Call home, and we'll save you a plate for when you're back.
Eid Mubarak! Thank you for the plate of biryani every year. Our family wishes yours peace and happiness today.
Warm wishes on Eid al-Fitr. May the festival bring peace and good health to you and your family.
Do
- Say "Eid Mubarak" freely; it is a greeting, not a religious statement you need to be Muslim to make.
- Visit in the afternoon or evening; the morning is for prayer and immediate family.
- Bring sweets, dry fruits or something for the children if you are invited home.
Avoid
- Don't send "Happy Ramadan" on Eid; Ramadan is the fasting month that has just ended.
- Don't bring alcohol or anything with pork as a gift.
- Don't fix your office Eid party before the moon is confirmed without a backup date.
Eid al-Fitr is the close of Ramadan. The other major Eid of the year is Eid al-Adha, about ten weeks later. For both dates in the coming year, see the 2027 calendar.
How to wish someone on Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr wishes are about gratitude after a month of fasting, generosity and family. "Eid Mubarak" (blessed Eid) is right from anyone, of any faith, and the usual reply is "Khair Mubarak". A good message mentions the fasts completed, the prayers, the food or the people gathered, and does not need to be religious in tone if you are not Muslim. Avoid sending wishes before the moon is confirmed as if the date were fixed.
Write a few lines in your own words, pick a design and share it as one link on WhatsApp, Instagram or anywhere else. They open an animated card made just for them, with no app and no sign-up.
Language tip: English, Hindi + recipient language.
When is Eid al-Fitr in 2026 and 2027?
Eid al-Fitr is set by the Islamic lunar calendar, so it falls on a different date each year. In 2027 it falls 10 days earlier than in 2026.
- 2026may vary by location
- 2027may vary by location
Frequently asked questions
When is Eid al-Fitr in 2027?
Eid al-Fitr 2027 falls on Wednesday, 10 March 2027, beginning at sunset the evening before. The exact date can vary by location and local calendar, so confirm with your community.
Why is Eid sometimes celebrated on different days in different parts of India?
Eid al-Fitr depends on the new moon being sighted, and India has no single authority for sightings. Committees in Kerala, Kashmir, Delhi and Lucknow each announce based on local reports, so when the moon is seen in one region but not another, Eid can fall a day apart.
What is fitra or Zakat al-Fitr?
Fitra, or Zakat al-Fitr, is a compulsory charity paid by Muslims for each member of their household at the end of Ramadan. It must be given before the Eid prayer so that poor families can also celebrate the day.
What is the reply to Eid Mubarak?
The common reply to "Eid Mubarak" is "Khair Mubarak", which returns the blessing. Many people simply reply "Eid Mubarak to you too", which is equally correct.
Can non-Muslims wish Eid Mubarak?
Yes. "Eid Mubarak" means "blessed Eid" and is a normal greeting from friends, neighbours and colleagues of any faith. Muslims in India commonly receive it from Hindu, Sikh and Christian friends.
What is the difference between Eid al-Fitr and Bakrid?
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Ramadan fast and falls on the first day of Shawwal. Bakrid, or Eid al-Adha, is the festival of sacrifice on the tenth day of Dhul Hijjah, about 70 days later, and is linked to the Hajj pilgrimage.
What is Chand Raat?
Chand Raat, "the night of the moon", is the evening the Shawwal crescent is announced and Ramadan ends. Families shop, apply mehendi and prepare food for Eid the next morning.
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