Eid al-Fitr in Australia 2015

Public Announcement 1st Day of Shawwal - 1436 All praise be to Allah (Subhanahu Wata’ala) the most Gracious and the most Merciful.

Board of Imams Victoria (BOIV) is pleased to announce that the 1st day of Shawwal 1436 will be on Friday 17th July 2015 Insha Allah. Board of Imams Victoria (BOIV) President Sheikh Isse Musse & the Member Imams send their warmest Eid al Fitr greetings to all Victorian Muslims and the entire Muslim community all over Australia.

*The Astronomical New Moon is expected to be on Thursday 16th July 2015 at 11:24am AEST thus the first possible visibility of the New Crescent Moon (Hilal) will be after sunset at 5.05pm Insha Allah . The New Crescent Moon (Hilal) is expected to remain at the horizon of Australia for approximately 19 minutes as the moonset will occur at 5.24pm AEST Insha Allah.

Muslims around the world will celebrate the festival of Eid al-Fitr end of this week, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. The Eid holiday lasts several days and begins at the start of the lunar month of Shawwal, although the exact date varies each year. Here are four things you might not know about Eid al-Fitr: 

It will begin this week:

The date on which Eid al-Fitr begins is determined by a confirmed sighting of the new moon after a month of fasting. But the precise day Eid begins is not a certainty. Every year there is controversy over the sighting of the moon, the Gulf News notes. "The question religious scholars ask is why do Muslims put themselves through this confusion every year? Science and technology can detect the birth of the new moon."

It is forbidden to fast: 

Eid al-Fitr "is the light at the end of the tunnel after a long and difficult month of fasting and abstaining," says the Al Bawaba website. Muslims will rise early and don their best clothes before enjoying a small breakfast ahead of prayers. After prayers it is customary to visit friends and relatives, where a feast will be served. Gifts are also exchanged, with clothes the most popular presents.

There are no sacrifices:

Eid al-Fitr is not to be confused with the other main Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, which this year falls in October. Though food is plentiful during the celebration, there are no ritual sacrifices. Eid al-Adha, on the other hand, celebrates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his own son, Ishmael, on Allah's command, and is marked by the ritual killing of lambs.

But it isn't just about food:

While feasting is central to Eid, there are also religious obligations connected to the festival. Muslims will not only be celebrating the end of fasting, but will be giving thanks to Allah for providing them with strength through the month of Ramadan. Eid is also a time of forgiveness, making amends and giving to charity