This year, Eid will be celebrated on a single day in south Gujarat. For the last three years the festival has been celebrated on two days in the region due to internal conflicts between Chand Committees of the Sunni and Tablighi sects.

Eid is celebrated when the new moon is sighted by the respective Chand Committees of these sects on the 29th day of Ramazan. This year, following the intervention of a social workers group, both sects have decided to declare Eid after a mutual discussion whether the moon has been sighted or not.

The presence of clouds often obscures moon sighting in some parts. In such cases, the Chand Committees rely on the gawah (Muslim clerics from other areas who have sighted the moon themselves). The gawah has to personally take responsibility of the sighting.

In Surat, the Chand committees are headed by Mufti Kayyum Shaikh of the Rander Chand Committee and Mufti Kesar Alam of Hazrat Khwaja Dana Dargah at Badekhan Chakla in the Gopipura area.

Controversy arises only when one Chand Committee does not sight the moon after sunset on the 29th day of Ramazan.

Talks were held between Shaikh and Alam over the phone following which the two agreed to celebrate Eid on a single day from this year onwards. Both muftis decided that if any one of them comes across the gawah, they will send across the message of moon sighting to the other leader. Later, both muftis will have a conversation and will declare Eid.

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