Muslims across the country will observe the holy fasting month of Ramzan from Monday.
In a statement issued in New Delhi, the Shahi Imam of the Fatehpuri Mosque, Maulana Mufti Mukarram Ahmed, said that since the new moon was not sighted on Saturday, the month of Ramzan will start on Monday. He said that had the moon been sighted on Saturday, the fasting month of Ramzan would have commenced from Sunday.
Ramzan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is observed as a fasting period by Muslims, who abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset.
During Ramzan, Muslims wake up early morning for the pre-dawn 'sehri' meal renouncing food and water during the day before breaking their fasts in the evening. The sumptuous evening meals are known as 'iftaars'.
The month-long fasting will culminate in the Id-ul-Fitr celebrations next month.
As Islam follows a lunar calendar, the holy month begins every year about 11 days earlier and its commencement is traditionally determined by the appearance of the new moon.
