Ramadan, the holiest month in Islam, holds significant meaning for millions of Muslims worldwide. Spanning 29 to 30 days, Ramadan is a time for fasting, prayer, self-reflection, and community. It commemorates the initial revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad in Islamic belief. The commencement of this sacred month hinges on the sighting of the crescent moon.
In India, Ramadan 2024 is expected to commence either on 11 or 12 March, contingent on the moon sighting in Mecca. The crescent moon is initially sighted in Saudi Arabia and typically a day later in Southeast Asian nations like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. It is noteworthy that Islam follows the lunar, or Hijri, calendar, consisting of 354 days based on the moon’s phases, in contrast to the solar or Georgian calendar used globally. This results in Ramadan being observed ten or eleven days earlier each year. In 2023, the Crescent moon was sighted in India on 24 March.
Sehri Iftar timings for Ramadan 2024 in India are as follows:
City Sehri Iftar
Delhi 05:18 am 06:27 pm
Mumbai 05:38 am 06:48 pm
Chennai 05:08 am 06:20 pm
Calcutta 04:35 am 05:45 pm
Ahmedabad 05:38 am 06:47 pm
Bangalore 05:19 am 06:31 pm
Hyderabad 05:16 am 06:26 pm
Kanpur 05:06 am 06:15 pm
Pune 05:34 am 06:44 pm
Surat 05:38 am 06:47 pm
In countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UK, the US, Turkey, and the Maldives, Ramadan is likely to commence on 11 March. In India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Egypt, Ramadan is expected to begin on 12 March.
Muslims worldwide observe fasting from sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan. The two main meals during this fasting period are Suhoor, consumed before dawn, and Iftar, enjoyed after dusk. Families and communities frequently come together to break their fasts during elaborate iftar feasts.
The timing of Iftar is influenced by the daily changes in sunset, leading Muslims to closely track sunset times throughout the month of Ramadan. Given the extensive geographic diversity in India, there are considerable differences in the hours designated for Iftar.
