Muslims in Sri Lanka will celebrate the Haj festival, Eid al-Adha, on May 28, the Colombo Grand Mosque announced.
The Colombo Grand Mosque and the Moon Sighting Committee stated that the crescent moon marking the beginning of Dhul Hijjah — the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar — was not sighted in Sri Lanka today. Accordingly, May 19 will be observed as the first day of the new month.
As Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the festival will be observed on Thursday, May 28, while Arafat Day will fall on Wednesday, May 27.
The festival commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son in obedience to divine command.
Eid al-Adha, regarded as one of the most significant festivals in Islam, coincides with the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is a mandatory religious duty that must be performed at least once in a lifetime by every Muslim who is physically and financially able to undertake the pilgrimage.
