Indian culture is dotted with elements from a number of religions, with the majority of Indians (roughly eighty percent) adhering to Hinduism. The second most-popular religion? Islam. About fourteen percent of the country claims this religion as their own, and this makes Muslim holidays a pretty big deal here!

Eid ul-Fitr is one of the most widely celebrated and festive Muslim holidays, celebrated in numerous countries around the world. In this article, you’ll learn all about Eid ul-Fitr and how it’s celebrated in India!

Let’s get started.

1. What is Eid ul-Fitr?

Eid ul-Fitr, initiated by the Prophet Muhammad, is a public holiday that marks the रमज़ान उपवास का अंत (ramzaan upvaas ka aanT), or “end of Ramadan fasting.”

Traditionally, Eid ul-Fitr was celebrated in Medina after the Prophet Muhammad’s journey out of Mecca. Here, he found people having a massive celebration; he told them that there were two other days on which they should be celebrating instead (this holiday, along with Eid ul-Adha).

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2. When is Eid ul-Fitr This Year?

Each year, the date of Eid ul-Fitr varies on the Gregorian calendar. For your convenience, here’s a list of this holiday’s date for the next ten years.

• 2020: May 24
• 2021: May 13
• 2022: May 3
• 2023: April 22
• 2024: April 10
• 2025: March 31
• 2026: March 20
• 2027: March 10
• 2028: February 27
• 2029: February 15

Note: The holiday actually starts the evening before the dates given here, and lasts until the end of the given dates. Dates can also vary a little based on the moon’s cycle in a given year.

3. Eid ul-Fitr Activities & Traditions

Eid ul-Fitr in India is a time of feasting, family, and worship. The main event for this holiday is the Eid prayer and service, though these are not obligatory to attend. It is obligatory, however, to provide Eid ul-Fitr donations to the poor and other people who are in need.

On Eid ul-Fitr, परिवार और दोस्तों का मेल जोल (parivaar aur DosTon ka mel jol), or “family and friends visit,” each other. They also give each other gifts, which often include money for the children.

In India, Eid ul-Fitr is often referred to as a मिठाई का उत्सव (mithaayi ka uTsav), or “sweet festival.” Many of the dishes prepared and eaten on this day are sweet and sugary; one of the most popular is called Lachcha. Fasting on Eid ul-Fitr is prohibited, as it’s meant to be a day of breaking the Ramadan fast.

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4. New Clothes!

On Eid ul-Fitr another popular custom is to नए कपड़े पहनना (naye kapde pahan na), or “wear new clothes.” It’s common for men to wear white clothing (representing purity), and for women and children to wear bright-colored clothing in celebration.

Typically, it’s very important to wear these new clothes while visiting family or attending prayers and services.

5. Must-Know Vocabulary for Eid ul-Fitr

Ready to review some of the vocabulary words from this lesson? Here’s a list of the most important words and phrases for the Eid ul-Fitr holiday in India!

• ईद उल-फ़ित्र (iiD uL-fiTra) — “Eid ul-Fitr”
• नए कपड़े पहनना (naye kapde pahan na) — “wear new clothes”
• मिठाई का उत्सव (mithaayi ka uTsav) — “sweet festival”
• मीठे की दावत (meethey ki DaavaT) — “sugar feast”
• मुसलामानों द्वारा मनाया जाता है (musalmaanon dvaara manaaya jaaTa hai) — “observed by Muslims”
• छोटी ईद (chhoti eed) — “Lesser Eid”
• ईद मुबारक (iid mubarak) — “Happy Eid”
• उपहार देना (uphaar Dena) — “give gifts”
• परिवार और दोस्तों का मेल जोल (parivaar aur DosTon ka mel jol) — “family and friends visit”
• रमज़ान उपवास का अंत (ramzaan upvaas ka aanT) — “end of Ramadan fasting”

To hear the pronunciation of each word and phrase, and to read them alongside relevant images, please be sure to check out our Hindi Eid ul-Fitr vocabulary list!

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed learning about Eid ul-Fitr in India with us, and that you took away some valuable cultural information!

Do you celebrate Eid ul-Fitr in your country? If so, how are your traditions similar or different from those in India?

If you’re curious to learn more about Indian culture and the Hindi language, HindiPod101.com has many more free learning resources for you:

• A Tribute to Mahatma Gandhi: The Gandhi Jayanti in India
• Indian Etiquette: Social and Business Etiquette in India
• How to Celebrate the Great Night of Lord Shiva in India
• Master Hindi with the 10 Best Hindi Shows on Netflix India
• 14 Unique Phrases & Hindi Words with No English Equivalent

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We look forward to having you, and we hope you’re still thirsty for knowledge of Indian culture!