Eid-Al-Fitr congregations are to be held in two locations of Hulhumalé this year.

This was announced by Urbanco.

Urbanco highlighted that the annual mass congregation for Eid-Al-Fitr prayer will be held in Hulhumalé Phase I as well as Phase II this year.

The mass congregation for Fitr Eid will be held at the Synthetic Track in Hulhumalé Phase I, with another congregation to be held in the Cricket Stadium region of Hulhumalé Phase II.

In a bid to ensure easy entry and exit by the public in the Synthetic Track area, two entrances have been allotted for men and women to enter the congregation separately.

The Central Park region has also been earmarked for the parking of motorcycles in order to avoid any traffic issues, according to Urbanco.

Further, arrangements have been made to ensure the participation of women and men in the mass congregation separately in the Cricket Stadium region as well.

Men will be allowed to enter the congregation separately and Urbanco noted that in Phase I and II, there will be arrangements made for public ablution.

Eid Al-Fitr falls on Friday, April 21 according to the Hijri Calendar. This has been backed by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom as well. However, the International Astronomical Centre (IAC) has stated that Eid Al-Fitr will likely fall on Saturday, April 22.

The official ceremony to confirm the moon sighting to mark the beginning of the month of Shawwal has been scheduled for Thursday evening. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs revealed that the meeting will take place at 8:45pm on Thursday, at the meeting hall of the Islamic Center.

The ceremony will be aired live on television as well as radio and streamed on the ministry’s social media platform Facebook page. All islands across the Maldives will be observing the moon sighting for the beginning of Shawwal.

Eid Al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, a month during which Muslims observe fasting from sunrise to sunset.

The government has been holding mass congregations at stadiums for many years now , with the first one held in 2012. Eid prayers are performed in congregation twice a year during Eid-Al-Adha and the Eid-Al-Fitr, the latter marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan which is celebrated by Muslim communities globally.

Performing the Eid prayer in congregation is a holy practice among the Muslim communities.