Most of India will celebrate Eid al-Adha on Thursday, May 28, 2026, following a delayed lunar crescent sighting [1].
The timing of the holiday is critical for millions of Muslims who rely on the sighting of the moon to determine the start of the Islamic month. Because the lunar crescent was not sighted on the expected day, regional authorities have issued varying dates for the observance [1], [2].
In India, the celebration is split by region. While the majority of the country will mark the holiday on May 28 [1], the region of Jammu and Kashmir will observe Eid al-Adha on May 27, 2026 [1]. This discrepancy stems from local traditions and the specific decisions of regional religious authorities regarding the moon sighting [1], [2].
Across the Gulf, the United Arab Emirates has seen similar calculations. Predictions for the UAE indicated that Eid al-Adha would begin on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 [3]. In Sharjah, government employees have received holiday date announcements based on these lunar forecasts [4].
Bakrid, also known as Eid al-Adha, is one of the most significant holidays in the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. The date varies annually because the Islamic calendar is lunar, meaning the start of each month depends on the first visible crescent of the new moon [1].
When the moon is not visible due to atmospheric conditions or astronomical positioning, the start of the holiday is pushed back by one day. This often results in different countries, or even different states within the same country, celebrating on different days [1], [2].
“Most of India will celebrate Eid al-Adha on Thursday, May 28, 2026”
The variation in dates across India and the UAE highlights the tension between astronomical calculations and traditional moon-sighting practices. Because different regional authorities may prioritize different sighting methods, it is common for the Muslim community to observe major holidays on staggered dates, affecting government holidays and public schedules.
