According to the Islamic calendar, February is considered the ninth month i.e. the month of Ramadan. This month is very special for the followers of Islam because during this time, on one hand, the festival of Shab-e-Barat is celebrated, while on the other hand, the holy month of Ramadan begins. According to Islamic beliefs, the holy month of Ramadan starts about 15 days after Shab-e-Barat. It is believed that Shab-e-Baraat can be celebrated on 3rd or 4th February 2026.
However, its date is decided when the moon is visible. Similarly, the beginning of Ramadan also depends on the sighting of the moon. Right after Shab-e-Barat, people start preparing for Ramzan. Ramadan is a month of fasting, prayer, restraint and charity not only in India but for Muslims all over the world. In such a situation, people are already curious to know when Ramadan will start this year and on which day Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated.
Shab-e-Barat is considered a very holy night in the religion of Islam. It is also called ‘Night of Forgiveness’. It is believed that on this night Allah forgives the sins of his servants and opens the doors of mercy. On this night people stay awake the whole night and offer namaz, recite (read) the Quran and ask for forgiveness of their sins. Many people also go to cemeteries to pray for their ancestors. Some people also keep fast on this day and pray for mercy from Allah.
Ramadan begins according to the Islamic lunar calendar, which is based entirely on the sighting of the moon. This is the reason why the date of Ramadan may be different in different countries. In India, it is estimated that Ramadan will start from 19 February 2026. If the moon is visible on the night of 18th February, then the holy month of Ramadan will start from the next day i.e. 19th February. With the beginning of Ramadan, people start fasting, which lasts for a whole month. During this time people spend time in worship of Allah, prayers and charity.
According to estimates, the month of Ramadan will end on March 20, 2026. Eid-ul-Fitr can be celebrated the next day i.e. on Saturday, March 21, 2026. However, the date of Eid can also be moved forward or backward by one day depending on the sighting of the moon. Overall, Eid is likely to fall on March 20 or 21.
On the day of Eid, men offer namaz collectively in mosques, while women offer namaz at homes and pray for everyone’s happiness and peace. After Namaz, various types of dishes are prepared in homes and Eid greetings are given to relatives and friends. Idi is given to children and there is a special tradition of donating food and money to poor and needy people.
