As the holy month of Ramadan enters its final stretch, anticipation is building across the globe for Eid-ul-Fitr 2025, the grand festival that marks the end of fasting and spiritual reflection. But just like every year, the big question remains — when will Eid be celebrated?

The answer isn’t a fixed calendar date — it depends on something far more celestial: the sighting of the new crescent moon, which signals the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal.

According to Islamic tradition and astronomical calculations, Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 is expected to fall on either March 30 or 31 in Saudi Arabia, and March 31 or April 1 in India, depending on the visibility of the moon after sunset.

Why does the date vary across countries?

Islamic months are based on the lunar calendar, and the appearance of a young waxing crescent moon is essential to declare the end of Ramadan. As per Islamic Shariah, a new lunar month starts only after the moon is sighted with the naked eye under favorable weather conditions. If the moon isn’t sighted, Ramadan is extended to 30 days.

What does the science say?

This year, the astronomical conjunction — when the moon transitions from invisibility to reappearance — is expected to occur on March 29, 2025, at 16:27 IST. Using the Babylonian Criterion, which requires the crescent to be at least 24 hours old and visible for a minimum of 48 minutes after sunset, predictions have been made across various cities in the Indian subcontinent and Middle East.

Observation teams, relying on astronomy and optical science, will make the final confirmation based on local visibility — making it possible for Eid to be observed on different days in different regions, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK, USA, and India.

A celebration rooted in the moon and unity

Eid-ul-Fitr is much more than a holiday. It is a celebration of unity, generosity, and gratitude observed by Muslims across the world — regardless of borders or backgrounds. From bustling city streets in India to serene deserts of the Middle East, from American suburbs to London’s multicultural neighborhoods, Muslims everywhere eagerly await the crescent moon’s sighting to begin their joyous day of Eid.

So, while the dates may differ slightly, the spirit of Eid remains beautifully shared.

The Kolhapur court on Friday extended the police custody of former journalist Prashant Koratkar till March 30, in connection with his controversial remarks against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Sambhaji Maharaj.

Koratkar was arrested earlier this week by Maharashtra police from Telangana after a phone conversation surfaced online in which he allegedly made derogatory comments and issued threats.

The case stems from a telephonic exchange between Koratkar and Kolhapur-based historian Indrajeet Sawant. The conversation, which Sawant later shared on social media, sparked widespread public outrage. Koratkar has been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for promoting enmity between groups.

During his appearance in Kolhapur court on Friday, tensions flared as a lawyer verbally abused him while he was being escorted out of the court complex. However, police confirmed that no physical altercation took place.

Koratkar had earlier been granted interim protection from arrest until March 1 by Additional Sessions Judge D.V. Kashyap. However, following the interim relief, Kolhapur police moved the Bombay High Court seeking cancellation of the order. The Bombay HC directed the local sessions court to examine the matter.

Subsequently, on March 18, Judge D.V. Kashyap rejected Koratkar’s anticipatory bail plea, leading to his arrest.

The defence argued in court that Koratkar is the sole earning member of his family, and prolonged detention would cause undue hardship. However, the court upheld the prosecution’s request for extended remand to continue investigations.

The Australian cricketer David Warner, known for his explosive batting and dancing moves on Pusha song, has officially stepped into the acting world with a cameo in the Telugu film Robinhood. However, the cricketer’s acting dubute is not a big news at all but his paycheck is making bigger headlines than the film itself.

In the Telugu action film Robinhood, starring Nithiin and Sreeleela, Warner made a guest appearance for which the cricketer charged a staggering Rs 2.5 crore for a 2-minute-50-second cameo. That’s right—less than three minutes of screen time, and he’s laughing all the way to the bank.

That’s around Rs 14 lakh per second, or what most of us make in, well… a decade.

Warner shot his scene over just 2 days, at a reported Rs 1.25 crore per day. It’s unclear if he had any lines or just gave his trademark grin and left, but clearly, he bowled Tollywood over without even lifting a bat.

The film, directed by Venky Kudumula, released on March 28 and has been getting solid reviews. But let’s be honest—Warner’s cameo is grabbing more headlines than the villain’s plot.

Also featuring Vennela Kishore, Rajendra Prasad, and others, Robinhood tells the story of an orphaned Robin Hood-type hero… and somewhere in there, Warner pops in, waves hello (we assume), and probably left for biryani before the credits rolled.

Fans are loving it. Accountants are weeping. And Warner? He’s now officially Tollywood’s highest-paid cameo artist.