Eid al-Adha 2026: Why do Muslims in Kashmir celebrate Bakrid on May 27, while the rest of India celebrates it on May 28? | Today’s news

Muslims around the world are preparing to celebrate Eid al-Adha, also known as Eid-ul-Azha or Bakrid in India, this week.

In Saudi Arabia, Eid al-Adha will be celebrated on May 27. In India, Muslims commemorate the festival a day later, on May 28. However in Kashmir Eid al-Adha will be held on May 27, the same day it is celebrated Saudi Arabia.

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Eid al-Adha is observed on the 10th day of Zil Hajj, the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. This Eid also coincides with the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

What is Eid al-Adha?

Eid al-Adha or ‘Feast of the Sacrifice’ is an Islamic festival that begins during the Hajj, on the 10th day of the lunar month Zil Hajj or Dhul-Hijja.

A joyous event celebrated by Muslims around the world, Eid al-Adha marks the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of submission to God.

How is the date of Eid decided in India, Saudi Arabia?

Muslims celebrate two Eids. Both were decided by sightings of the crescent moon.

One Eid falls after Ramadan and the other around the Hajj pilgrimage. The Eid that follows Ramadan is known as Eid al-Fitr and falls on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

Eid al-Fitr falls on the 1st day of the month of Shawwal, therefore the date is decided by the month of Shawwal (hilal), the new crescent that is observed on the last day of Ramadan, the month of fasting.

In the case of Eid al-Adha, the festival falls on the 10th day of Zil Hajj, so the dates are confirmed earlier, with the sighting of the moon at the beginning of the month – the 1st day of Zil-Hajj.

Read also | Hajj 2026: Millions flock to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage despite Middle East war

This year, Saudi Arabia confirmed the sighting of the Zil Hajj crescent moon on Sunday, May 17, when the new Islamic month begins. Consequently, Monday 18 May 2026 was observed as the first day of Zil Hajj a Eid al-Adha so it will be May 27, which is the 10th day of Zil Hajj.

In India, the crescent moon was not sighted on May 17, which meant that May 19, 2026 was the first day of Zil Hajj in India, and thus Eid al-Adha will be on May 28, which is the 10th day of Zil Hajj.

However, in Kashmir, local clerics said that the crescent was sighted on 17 May and according to 18 May 2026, it was observed as the first day of Zil Hajj. So Eid al-Adha will be celebrated Muslims in Kashmir 27 MayWednesday which is the 10th day of Zil Hajj.

Hajj 2026 begins today in Saudi Arabia

Over 1.5 million pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia from outside the kingdom for the upcoming Hajj, which surpassed the number of international visitors last year despite the war in the Middle East, international news agencies quoted officials as saying.

Pilgrims start arriving early Saudi Arabiahowever, the main rituals begin on Monday, May 25, according to the strict chronological order of the Hajj rituals, which are observed each year, three days before Eid al-Adha– the Feast of Sacrifice, which this year falls on May 27 in Saudi Arabia.

Hajj 2026 takes place against the backdrop of a ceasefire in the Iran war and related uncertainty in the Middle East.

What is Hajj?

The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the profession of faith, prayer (Namaz), almsgiving (Zakat) and fasting (Ramadan).

Hajj is annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia and includes a number of religious rituals.

Eid al-Adha marks Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of submission to God.

The once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage is obligatory for every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to do it. Some Muslims make the journey more than once in their lifetime.

Key things

• The date of Eid al-Adha is determined by the sighting of the moon, leading to different days of observance in different regions.
• Kashmiri local clerics confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon earlier than the rest of India, leading to a unique date for the celebration.
• Eid al-Adha coincides with the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, highlighting the importance of the festival in the Islamic calendar.