ISTANBUL
Residents of Turkey and a majority of Muslims around the world are preparing to embrace the end of Ramadan feast after a month of fasting on Friday, while some are to celebrate it on Saturday.
Religious authorities in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, Palestine, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Tanzania, South Africa and Uganda have announced Friday as the first day of the Eid al-Fitr holiday after the sighting of the new moon on Thursday.
Other countries including Iraq, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are to start the holiday Saturday.
Religious feasts are determined by the lunar calendar.
Although it has 12 months just like the Gregorian calendar, the lunar calendar drifts each solar year by 11 to 12 days.
Thus, local authorities need to determine the celebration day every year with a new moon sighting to announce the feast.
Eid al-Fitr starts Friday in Turkey and lasts through Sunday.
