DnyanjyotiEducationNagpur at 19:33, 1 March 2026

2026-03-01T19:33:38Z

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{{Short description|Eve of Eid al-Fitr}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{For|the religious observance|Laylat al-Jaiza}}
{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name = Chaand Raat
| type = South Asian
| longtype = ([[South Asia]])
| image = Moon crescent on the eve of Eid on 24 may 2020.jpg
| caption = A crescent moon marking the beginning of the [[Eid al-Fitr]] in 2020
| observedby = [[Muslims]]
| relatedto = [[Eid al-Fitr]], [[Eid al-Adha]]
| date =
}}
'''Chaand Raat''' ({{IPA|hns|t͡ʃãːd̪ ɾaːt̪|lang}}, {{lit|Night of the moon}}) is a [[South Asia]]n Cultural observance on the eve of the festival of [[Eid al-Fitr]]; it can also mean a night with a [[new moon]] for the new [[Islamic calendar|Islamic month]] [[Shawwal]]. Chaand Raat is a time of celebration when families and friends gather in open areas at the end of the last day of [[Ramadan]] to spot the new moon, which signals the arrival of the Islamic month of Shawwal and the day of Eid. Once the moon is sighted, people wish each other ''[[Eid Mubarak]]'' ("Blessings of the Eid day"). Women and girls decorate their hands with [[mehndi]] ([[henna]]), and people prepare [[Dessert|desserts]] for the next day of Eid and do last rounds of [[shopping]].<ref name="The News">{{cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/212876-Chand-Raat-is-here-again|title='Chand Raat' is here again|author=Jamila Achakzai|work=The News|access-date=25 June 2017}}</ref> City streets have a festive look, and brightly decorated malls and markets remain open late into the night.<ref name="Express Tribune">{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2355230/chand-raat-brings-joys-to-shoppers-traders|title=Chand Raat brings joys to shoppers, traders|author=Aamir Khan|newspaper=Express Tribune|access-date=30 November 2022|date=3 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503045926/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2355230/chand-raat-brings-joys-to-shoppers-traders|archive-date=3 May 2022|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Times of India">{{cite news|url =http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/lucknow-times/city-gears-for-chand-raat/articleshow/30303491.cms| title =City gears for Chand Raat|work =The Times of India|access-date =2009-08-01|date=5 December 2002}}</ref> ''Chaand Raat'' is celebrated festively and passionately by [[Muslims]] (and occasionally non-Muslims as well) all over South Asia, and in socio-cultural significance, is comparable to [[Christmas Eve]].

==Etymology==
[[Image:Chand raat.jpg|thumb|A ''Chaand Raat'' celebration in [[Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh|Hyderabad]], [[India]]]]
The term is derived from the [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]] ''chānd rāt'' ({{Langx|hi|चाँद रात|label=[[Devanagari]]}}, {{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|چاند رات}}|label=[[Nastaliq|Nastaʼlīq]]}}), literally translating to 'moon night'. The two words in the term are derived from the [[Sanskrit]] words ''candrá'' (चंद्र) "[[moon]]"<ref name="spokensanskrit.de (moon)">{{cite web|url =http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?script=HK&tinput=%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0&country_ID=&trans=Translate&direction=AU| title =चन्द्र, candra, moon|publisher =Spoken Sanskrit Dictionary|access-date =2009-08-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719090618/http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?script=HK&tinput=%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0&country_ID=&trans=Translate&direction=AU|archive-date=2011-07-19}}</ref> and ''rā́tri'' (रात्रि) "[[night]]",<ref name="spokensanskrit.de (night)">{{cite web|url =http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?tinput=raatri&direction=SE&script=HK&link=yes| title =रात्रि, raatri, night|publisher =Spoken Sanskrit Dictionary|access-date =2009-08-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719090759/http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?tinput=raatri&direction=SE&script=HK&link=yes|archive-date=2011-07-19}}</ref> respectively.

==Background==
''Chaand Raat'' celebrations occur on the eve of Eid ul-Fitr, which is celebrated on 1 Shawwal. Originated in [[South Asia]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thedailystar.net/shout/chaand-raat-old-dhaka-112417 | title=Chaand Raat in Old Dhaka | date=16 July 2015 }}</ref> the beginning of an Islamic month depends on the first sighting of the lunar crescent and thus the month of Ramadan can be of either 29 or 30 days. Chaand Raat occurs on the same evening on which first lunar crescent of the month of Shawwal is observed. As the exact day of Eid ul-Fitr is dependent on the moon sighting, Chaand Raat is often considered more festive on Eid ul-Fitr than [[Eid ul-Adha]], which is known well in advance.

==Festivities==
Once the new moon is sighted, announcements are made from [[mosques]], as well as through television and radio broadcasts. Festivities begin almost instantly and continue all night until the morning Fajr prayer. Entire families head out towards the local bazaars, markets and shopping malls. Shoppers usually purchase last-minute items for Eid, such as [[shalwar kameez]], [[Bangle|bangles]], jewelry, bags, and shoes. Gifts and sweets are brought for friends while toys are brought for children. Barber shops and beauty parlors are also heavily visited in the evening in preparation for the following day. At home, women and girls decorate their hands with mehndi. People also decorate their homes and begin preparing food for the holiday. Decorative lights are put up in markets as well as government buildings, banks and mosques. Chaand Raat also gives a chance for people to meet with friends and extended family.
[[File:ꠘꠥꠘꠉꠠꠣ_ꠀꠞ_ꠢꠣꠘ꠆ꠖꠦꠡ.jpg|thumb|right|[[Handesh]] are made on Chaand Raat for the celebration of the next day's celebration of [[Eid Al Fitr]] in [[Culture of Bengal| Bengali culture]]]]

==See also==
* [[Laylat al-Jaiza]]
* [[Festivals in Bangladesh]]
* [[Festivals in Pakistan]]
* [[Festivals in India]]
* [[Ruet-e-Hilal Committee]]
* [[Islam in South Asia]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.chandraat.com/ Official Chand Raat in Australia]

{{Ramadan|state=expanded}}

[[Category:Fasting in Islam]]
[[Category:Festivals of Bangladeshi culture]]
[[Category:Festivals in India]]
[[Category:Festivals in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Eid (Islam)]]
[[Category:Ramadan]]
[[Category:Islamic terminology]]

Chaand Raat - Revision history

DnyanjyotiEducationNagpur at 19:33, 1 March 2026