RIYADH – Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated on August 21, 2018 whereasYoum-e-Arafat (also known as Youm-e-Arafah), will be on Monday August 20,2018, the Saudi Supreme Court announced after the Dhul Hijjah moon wassighted on Saturday, corresponding to 29th of Dhulka’edah 1439 AH.

The Eid-ul-Azha holiday will last for 11 days in the Islamic kingdom thisyear.

The second holiest festival of Muslims around the world is celebrated on10th of Dhul Hijjah and the first day of Haj ritual – Youm-e-Arafah, thestanding on the Plains of Arafat is held on a day before on 9th of DhulHijjah.

Youm e Arafat 2018 (Youme Arafah) is 9th day of Dhul Hijjah when more than2.5 million Muslims from around the world will gather on the plains ofMount Arafat to perform Hajj.

Muslims in Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Kuwait, Iraq, Palestine, Syria,Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Russia, United States, Britainand other countries will also decide today when Eid-ul-Azha 2018 will becelebrated in these countries.

Haj and Eid-ul-Azha ( also known as Bakra Eid, Eid ul Azha and Eiduz Zuhain the subcontinent) are celebrated to commemorate the sacrifices made byProphet Ibrahim (PBUH), his noble wife Hajira and their son Prophet Ismael(PBUH).

Turkey, UAE, Kuwait, Pakistan and Bangladesh celebrated a nine-day publicholiday in 2017. In India and the Philippines also Eid-ul-Azha is declareda public holiday.

In India and Pakistan, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meettomorrow (Sunday) to decide about the sighting of the Dhul Hajjah moon.