In pictures | Id brings smiles, yet stirs scars for many
The Hindu
The Id-ul-Fitr festival in 2026 is unfolding across the world in contrasting circumstances, shaped by both celebrations and conflicts.
The Id-ul-Fitr festival in 2026 is unfolding across the world in contrasting circumstances, shaped by both celebrations and conflicts. In India, the festival brings crowds to mosques, family gatherings and markets filled with last-minute shoppers. Elsewhere, particularly in conflict-affected regions, celebrations are more subdued, shaped by displacement, shortages and uncertainty. This photo story depicts how Id is being observed globally: from moments of joy and tradition to quieter, more subdued celebrations. Interestingly, the festival unfolds not just in different ways, but also on different days, as communities follow their own moon sightings, which vary across regions.
In 2026, several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman, observed Id on March 20. In India, parts of Kerala celebrated it on the same day, while the rest of the country, along with Pakistan and Bangladesh, celebrated on March 21 following local moon sightings.
These photographs capture the contrasts in how Id is observed across the globe.
Iranian worshippers perform Id-ul-Fitr prayers at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque in Tehran, Iran on March 21, 2026.
People attend Id-ul-Fitr prayers in Tehran, Iran on March 21, 2026. At dawn, a crowd of worshippers gathered at central Tehran's Imam Khomeini grand mosque, named after the founder of the Islamic republic. Photo: WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
For lack of space, many worshippers followed the prayer outside, with state television showing images of crowded areas around the mosque, despite the risk of strikes. Photo: WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
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