The government of Jammu and Kashmir has said that the holiday for Jumat-ul-Vida will now be on March 13, 2026. The holiday was supposed to happen on March 20 across the Union Territory.
A written letter came out on Thursday announcing the decision. According to the notice, the holiday will be on March 13 instead of March 20 because of Jumat-ul-Vida. The whole Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be affected by this change.
Authorities chose to move the holiday up because they didn’t know what would happen on this year’s last Friday of Ramadan. The government did this to ensure everyone knew the correct date for the holy event.
Why Jumat-ul-Vida is Important in Ramadan
For Muslims, Jumat-ul-Vida is a very important day. The holiday is held on the last Friday of Ramadan and is very important to Muslims as a holy event. Muslims fast from dawn until dusk, pray, give to others, and reflect on their faith during Ramadan. People think that the last Friday of this holy month is especially important because it is right before Eid-ul-Fitr.
On this day, people often go to mosques to pray, making it one of the most important religious events during Ramadan.
Why was the holiday pushed back?
The main reason for the change in the holiday date is that it’s not clear when the crescent moon will be seen, which marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the month of Shawwal.
According to the Islamic calendar, Eid-ul-Fitr is marked on a date that changes every time the crescent moon is seen. Because of this, the government can’t always say in advance which day Eid will be.
The last Friday of Ramadan would have been March 12, and Eid-ul-Fitr would be on March 20, also a Friday. This applies if the Shawwal moon is seen on March 19. If, on the other hand, the moon is seen on March 20, that Friday would be the last day of Ramadan and be known as Jumat-ul-Vida. Eid-ul-Fitr would then be marked on March 21. Because of this, the government chose to move the holiday earlier to ensure everyone could clearly observe it.
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When Should You Expect Eid-ul-Fitr This Year?
Once the crescent moon is seen, it will be easy to tell when Eid-ul-Fitr is. According to predictions, the moon could be seen on either March 19 or March 20. Eid-ul-Fitr will be held on March 20 if the crescent moon is seen on March 19. The festival will happen on March 21, though, if the moon is seen on March 20.
Since the Islamic calendar is based on the moon, the exact date of Eid can vary by region, depending on where people observe it.
Also read: Gudi Padwa – The Auspicious Beginning of the Marathi New Year
What Will Be Closed on March 13?
Since the notice was revised, all government offices, schools, and other public sector businesses in Jammu and Kashmir will be closed on March 13. People will be able to celebrate Jumat-ul-Vida, pray, and perform religious activities during the holy month of Ramadan because of the holiday.
The decision makes sure that people can properly celebrate the event without getting confused about the date, which is especially important since seeing the moon marks the end of Ramadan and the start of Eid-ul-Fitr.
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