The Council of Ulema of the Islamic Center of the country has decided to celebrate Eid al-Fitr on April 10 after a meeting held today, April 4.
The festive prayer will take place at 6:30 am in all Friday mosques across the country, as reported by the Committee for Religious Affairs.
This day is declared a public holiday in Tajikistan.
The Council of Ulema previously announced that the amount of Fitrana (alms given during the Holy Fast) is 7 somoni.
The Fidya for those who are unable to fast, or for missed fasting days during the holy month, is 420 somoni for 30 days (14 somoni per day).
This year, the holy month of Ramadan began on March 11 in Tajikistan.
Eid al-Fitr is a celebration of breaking the 30-day strict fast.
During this time, Muslims abstain from food, water, other drinks, tobacco, and intimacy during the day. Abstaining begins five minutes before the morning prayer and ends after sunset (with the start of the evening prayer).
Eid al-Fitr is considered a holiday of reconciliation, love, and friendly handshakes. It is customary to visit the less fortunate and take care of the elderly on this day. People are expected to wear clean clothes and go to the mosque early in the morning to perform the festive prayer. After that, men go to the cemetery to remember deceased relatives.
As per the long-standing tradition in Tajikistan, on all Muslim holidays - Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha (Eid al-Kurban), children go around in the morning to congratulate relatives and neighbors (idgardak) and receive treats from the hosts.
In 2017, the religious authorities of Tajikistan spoke out against extravagance and idgardak during Eid al-Ramadan for the first time.
In August 2017, amendments were made to the Law "On Regulating Traditions, Celebrations, and Customs" in Tajikistan. This law requires Muslims to set a modest table for religious holidays such as Ramadan and Kurban, and prohibits extravagance and excess. There is no official ban on idgardak in the country.
