Image for representation purposes only. | Photo credit: Archive
The All J&K Shia Association has become the first Muslim body in the Union Territory to collaborate with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for moon sighting on the occasion of Ramzan.
A delegation of the Association, led by its general secretary, Abid Hussain Ansari, called for a joint meeting with the IMD in the Rambagh area of Srinagar “to observe the crescent”, which heralds the beginning of the month of fasting for Muslims.
“The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will function on a permanent basis and observe the moon every Islamic month. This step will help end the dependence on reports of lunar sightings from other places and ensure local, credible and timely confirmation for the community,” Ansari said.
In the past, Kashmir has many times aligned itself with the announcements made by the Ruet-e-Hilal Committees in Pakistan and Iran about sighting of the moon to start Ramzan or observe Eid festivals.
Meanwhile, the Committee observed the moon at the IMD. “The Association announced that Ramzan 1 will be observed from February 19, 2026, following confirmation of reports of sightings of the moon from other parts of India, including Kargil and Lucknow,” it said.
The Association said it would work to “encourage unity, transparency and collective participation in religious celebrations.”
Published – February 19, 2026 06:57 pm IST
