A Gazette notice issued on Wednesday announced that Interior CS Kithure Kindiki has declared Friday, April 21st, 2023, a public holiday to observe Idd-ul-Fitr, in accordance with section 2(1) of the Public Holidays Act.
Eid al-Fitr, also known as the “Holiday of Breaking the Fast,” is one of the two official Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide, with the other being Eid al-Adha. This religious holiday marks the end of Ramadan, the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting period.
It falls on the first day of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar, which varies based on the sighting of the new moon by local religious authorities. The holiday is known by different names in different countries and languages.
Muslims celebrate the day with a special prayer known as salat, consisting of two units and performed in congregation.
The prayer features a varying number of Takbirs, depending on the school of thought, and is followed by festivities that include a variety of foods and sweets, giving the holiday its nickname “Sweet Eid” or “Sugar Feast.”
