Bakrid vs Eid al-Fitr: Key Differences in Islamic Calendars

Date determination also varies. Eid al-Fitr relies on the sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon on the last day of Ramadan. Bakrid observes the 10th day after the Zil Hijjah moon sighting, which also aligns with the Hajj pilgrimage. This year, the moon for Bakrid was sighted on May 18 in India, shifting the festival to May 28 from the earlier public holiday on May 27. Eid al-Fitr was celebrated on March 21 after the crescent was sighted on March 20.

Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, dates shift by about 10–11 days annually. Regional variations in moon sighting, due to geography, weather, and time zones, mean different countries may celebrate on different days. India typically observes Eid a day after Saudi Arabia, though rare same-day celebrations occur.

Muslims follow a 12-month lunar calendar, each month lasting 29 or 30 days, beginning with the crescent moon sighting. The start and end of every month are determined by this sighting, making the lunar calendar central to Islamic observances.