Jakarta - Indonesian Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar on Thursday, 19 March 2026 in Jakarta announced that this year's largest Muslim celebration Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijri falls on 21 March.
The announcement was made after an isbat meeting to validate the appearance of a new month in Hijri calendar by seeing the sight of a new moon, according to Islamic teachings.
Representatives from the House of Representatives (DPR), religious leaders, government researchers, scholars, officials from the Religious Affairs Ministry and other relevant parties participated in the isbat meeting on Thursday.
Eid al-Fitr is celebrated following Ramadan month when Muslims across the globe do obligatory one month fasting.
Minister Nasaruddin said that from scholars' calculation and officers' sighting, hilal or the the sight of the new moon has not yet seen and matched the range of degree to determine the beginning of a new month.
All of data gathered from 117 monitoring points across Indonesia by bare-eyes as well as astronomic equipments in accordance to MAMBIS standard, agreement made by religious affairs ministers from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Singapore in 1989, hilal has yet seen.
"Hilal has yet seen...it's agreed that 1 Syawal 1447 Hijri falls on Saturday, 21 March 2026," said Nasaruddin at the Religious Affairs Ministry.
Government has declared national leaves from 16 to 24 March 2006 as Indonesia also celebrates Nyepi, a silence day for Balinese Hindu, on 19 March conjunction with Eid al-Fitr celebrations.
About 10 million Indonesians are expected to travel home to celebrate Eid festivity with families and relatives as annual tradition.***
