The first day of Eid al Fitr is likely on Wednesday (July 6), the Astronomical Society of Oman has said. “We will observe the moon on 29th of Ramadhan (Tuesday), but it is expected to be cloudy taking into consideration the present weather pattern.
But the moon will be visible later, and we are expecting a better Shawwal on the same day evening,” said Sulaiman al Busaidy, member of the society. Oman has announced public holidays to begin from July 5 till 9, and work resumes on July 10. “On Monday the moon is expected to be an incomplete circle and is fully-grown crescent, but by Tuesday a full moon is visible heralding the beginning of Shawwal the first of which is also the Eid day,” Al Busaidy, who is also the curator at the PDO Planetarium, added.
All other Gulf countries began Ramadhan on June 6, while Oman started on June 7 and thus, the faithful in the Sultanate will be fasting for 29 days this year. Meanwhile, citizens and residents are gearing up for the Eid day. Major commercial places such as Muttrah Souq and others are brimming with life till late night. “We are open till late night yesterday as the people came from far-flung areas for shopping. Business is going on well and we are happy about it,” a vendor at Muttrah Souq said. Scores of shops selling traditional musar and komma in Muscat are welcoming customers till late night. “We are obliged to keep our shops open till late night and we don’t discourage late night customers although our tailors are busy with orders,” Pawani, a garments shop manager, said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Heritage and Culture had earlier issued a circular banning all sort of modifications or carrying out alterations which change the very look of the traditional dresses to preserve Omani identity. “We hereby urge tailors and those who trade in Omani garments to abide by rules and regulations and the prescribed style of Omani dishdashas and abayas as they are part of Omani culture and tradition. Any intentional change or alteration to the authentic wear will be an offence”, a statement from the ministry said.
Source: OmanObserver