The holy month of Ramadan began on Wednesday after a crescent moon was sighted in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. A month lasts 29 or 30 days depending on the moon sighting. Ramadan is a sacred period of fasting and prayer.
It was during this month in 610 that the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Qur’an, making Ramadan the holiest time in the Islamic calendar.
Why is Ramadan important?
Ramadan marks the month in which the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed. For Muslims around the world, it is a time of deep spiritual reflection, devotion and self-discipline.
During Ramadan, observant Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk. In the evening, they gather with family and friends to break their fast, a meal known as iftar.
It is also a time of intensified prayers, when believers gather in large numbers in mosques, especially for night prayers.
When will the month of Ramadan 2026 be sighted in India?
The crescent moon marking the start of Ramadan is expected to be sighted in India between 6.15pm and 6.45pm on Wednesday.
By then the sun will have set and the sky will be dark enough to catch a faint sliver of the new moon.
Shortly after sunset, members of the Muslim community and local Islamic organizations turn their gaze to the western horizon in search of the crescent moon.
If the Moon is sighted on February 18, the holy month of Ramadan will begin in India on Thursday, February 19, marking the first day of fasting.
However, if the crescent is not visible, the month of Sha’ban will complete 30 days and Ramadan will begin a day later, on Friday, February 20.
Sehri and Iftar Timing of Ramadan 2026 in India
Sehri is the pre-fast meal before sunrise. Each day of fasting ends with iftar after sunset.
Sehri and Iftar times change by a few minutes each day in accordance with the timing of sunrise and sunset. It is different for different cities. For example, in Delhi, if the first roza is on Thursday, February 19, devotees will begin their fast by stopping eating and drinking at 5:37 a.m.—the end of Sehri. Muslims will observe the fast for about 12 hours and break the fast at 6:15 pm, called Iftar.
Similarly, on Friday, February 20, the end time for Sehri in Delhi is 5:36 a.m., which means people observing the fast cannot eat or drink after this time until 6:15 p.m., when the roza opens on Friday.
Observing the month of Ramadan 2026: Timings of the cities of India
According to The Economic Times, the crescent moon is expected to be visible in various cities across India according to the following schedule: