Ramadan 2026 is being observed across India with prayers, fasting and reflection, one of the most significant months in the Islamic calendar. The holy month began in India on Thursday, February 19, after the crescent moon was sighted a day earlier.
Ramadan follows the Hijri (Islamic lunar) calendar and only begins after the sighting of the new moon. While Gulf countries often observe the crescent moon months earlier, India usually begins observance a day later. This year, the moon signaling the start of Ramadan was sighted in India on Wednesday, February 18, making February 19 the first day of fasting.
Fasting from dawn to dusk during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. During this period, devout Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and marital relations, focusing on prayer, charity, and self-discipline.
The daily fast begins with sehri, the pre-dawn meal, and ends with iftar, which is observed immediately after sunset. Since sunrise and sunset timings vary by location and date, sehri and iftar schedules vary from city to city.
Religious scholars note that sehri and iftar times can vary by several minutes depending on announcements made by local mosques and whether one follows Sunni or Shia traditions. Devotees are advised to follow the timings issued by the trusted local authorities.
As Ramadan progresses, these timings will continue to change gradually each day in accordance with the advance of daylight hours.
Why is the timing of Sehri and Iftar important during Ramadan?
During Ramadan, Muslims observe daily fasts from dawn to dusk, devoting time to spiritual reflection, devotion and acts of love.
Sehri or Suhoor is a pre-dawn meal eaten before the Fajr (morning) prayer, which marks the beginning of the daily fasting period.
Iftar is the meal with which Muslims break their fast at sunset after the Maghrib (evening) prayer.
Sehri and Iftar have specific timings and are observed every day. These times vary from city to city.
How do Sehri and Iftar timings differ from city to city?
As the daylight hours move throughout the month, the timings of sehri and iftar change regularly.
The timetable also varies by city. Whether in Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata or Mumbai, the timings of Sehri and Iftar are different – therefore each day of Ramadan is slightly different depending on the location.
For example, this year Sehri timings in Lucknow and New Delhi were generally a few minutes apart, while Kolkata timings are about 30-35 minutes ahead compared to New Delhi.
