By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Millions of Muslims worldwide are celebrating Eid al-Fitr over two consecutive days this year, with the familiar geographical divide between the Middle East and South Asia once again shaping when the festival is observed.

While Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Turkey, and Russia marked the end of Ramadan with Eid prayers on Friday, Muslims across South Asia, including Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, marked on Saturday.

The split in Eid dates stems from the Islamic lunar calendar's reliance on actual moon sightings. Saudi Arabia and Gulf nations announced Eid for Friday after their moon-sighting committees confirmed the crescent was not visible on Wednesday evening, completing Ramadan's 30 days. In South Asia, the Shawwal moon remained unseen on Thursday, pushing the celebration to Saturday.

"This geographical lag is the reason for the one-day difference in celebrations this year," explained religious authorities, noting that the crescent often becomes visible in the Middle East nearly 24 hours before it can be spotted further east.

Across Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, the announcement of a Saturday Eid sparked intensified "Chand Raat" festivities on Friday evening.

In Indian cities like Mumbai's Mohammad Ali Road and Delhi's Jama Masjid, massive crowds gathered for last-minute shopping, with markets bustling for Chikankari kurtas and sweet shops reporting record bookings for Sheer Khurma ingredients.

In Pakistan, Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee Chairman Dr. Abdul Khabir Azad officially announced Saturday as Eid after confirming no moon sighting reports from anywhere in the country. 

Afghanistan's Taliban government, however, diverged from its South Asian neighbors, announcing Eid for Thursday, a day earlier than both the Gulf and South Asia. Iran will also celebrate Saturday, with Eid coinciding with the Persian New Year celebration of Nowruz.

In Russia, where Eid is known as Oraza Bairam, more than 200,000 worshippers gathered at four major mosques in Moscow for Friday prayers. The main ceremony at the Moscow Cathedral Mosque was broadcast on Russia 1, allowing wider participation, while Sheikh Rawil Gaynetdin, the spiritual leader of Russian Muslims, delivered the Eid sermon.

President Vladimir Putin extended greetings to Russia's 25 million Muslims, praising their role in society and specifically acknowledging Muslim soldiers fighting in Ukraine. "Muslims in Russia deeply respect their historical and spiritual traditions," Putin said, noting that Islamic spiritual leaders in Chechnya, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, and Dagestan offered prayers for Russian troops.

In Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Eid prayers were held with heightened security measures amid ongoing regional tensions. The UAE confirmed prayers would be held inside mosques only, not in open prayer grounds, as a precautionary safety measure.

King Salman bin Abdulaziz extended greetings to Muslims worldwide, praying for peace and security for the Islamic nation.

Friday celebrations extended across Turkey, Yemen, Palestine, Iraq, and Australia. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined local Muslims at a Sydney mosque to extend greetings.