Hari Raya Haji falls on June 29 this year. Here’s everything you need to know
Hari Raya Haji falls this week on June 29, marking a sacred day for Muslims who will be commemorating it. In a multiracial and multireligious society like Singapore, the occasion is also an official public holiday.
Also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, Hari Raya Haji marks the 70th day after Ramadan which is a month of fasting for Muslims. Hari Raya Haji is also one of the two major Muslim festivals in Singapore and it involves pilgrimages and donating meat to the needy after sacrificing an animal.
On this day, we see Muslims attend prayer services, sacrifice livestock (Korban) and spend time with family and loved ones. Below, we take a closer look at the significance of this special day.
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1. When does Hari Raya Haji occur?
Like all Islamic festivals, the date for Hari Raya Haji is based on the sightings of the new moon. This means that the date will differ each year, according to the Gregorian calendar. In Singapore, the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) determines the date of the celebration each year. According to Singapore Infopedia, Hari Raya Haji occurred twice in 2006—in January and December.