New Delhi

The moon of Dhul-Hijjah (Zil-Hijjah), one of the holiest months in Islam, was sighted in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday evening, confirming the official dates of Hajj pilgrimage 2025 and Eid-al-Azha.

The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia announced that Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Hijri calendar, will begin on Wednesday, May 28.

As per this announcement the festival of Eid al-Adha, also known as "Bakrid", will fall on Saturday June 7 in India and South Asian region.

The festival commemorates the tradition of sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim - who intended to sacrifice his son on the orders of Allah. Animals are sacrificed on this festival and the meat is distributed among the needy.

While Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman and most West Asian and South-East Asian countries will celebrate Bakr-Eid on June 6, Friday, in India, Pakistan, Malaysia and Brunei, it falls on Saturday, June 7.

Hajj Schedule 2025

Hajj begins on the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah, when thousands of pilgrims head towards the tent city of Mina.

Schgedule for Hajj 2025:

4 June (Wednesday): Pilgrims will head towards Mina.    

5 June (Thursday): Day of Arafat, the holiest and most important day of Hajj.    

6 June (Friday): Eid al-Adha and animal sacrifice.  

Abu Dhabi-based Al Khatm Astronomical Observatory succeeded in taking rare pictures of the moon during the day. In UAE and Saudi Arabia, preparations had already been made to view the moon with special telescopes.

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Meanwhile Pakistan's space agency SUPARCO said that seeing the moon with naked eyes was very difficult considering the age of the moon and weather conditions.