About Chand Raat
Chand Raat, the night of the moon, is the evening the new crescent of Shawwal is sighted, which makes the next day Eid al-Fitr. In 2027 it is expected on the evening of Tuesday, 9 March 2027, subject to the moon being seen in India. Muslim families across South Asia spend it finishing the Eid shopping, applying mehndi and cooking for the morning.
On the last evening of Ramadan, people break the fast and then go up to rooftops and out to open ground to look west. If the thin new moon shows, or a committee announces that it has been seen somewhere, the month is over. Tomorrow is Eid, and tonight is Chand Raat. In Hyderabad the night starts with the siren for the last iftar. Within an hour the markets around Charminar are full.
How the night is decided
Chand Raat is not fixed in advance. The Islamic calendar is lunar, and a month lasts 29 or 30 days depending on when the new crescent is seen.
So on the evening of the 29th day of Ramadan, people watch for the moon of Shawwal. If it is sighted, that same night becomes Chand Raat and Eid al-Fitr is the next morning. If it is not, Ramadan runs to 30 days, there is one more fast, and Chand Raat comes a day later. A month can't run past 30 days, so the second evening is Chand Raat whether or not anyone sees the moon.
India has no single national body for moon sighting. Announcements come from regional committees and senior clerics, such as the Markazi Chand Committee in Lucknow, the imams of Delhi's Jama Masjid and Fatehpuri Masjid, clerics in Kerala and the Grand Mufti in Kashmir. Their decisions can differ by a day.
That happened in 2026. Kerala celebrated Eid on Friday 20 March, so its Chand Raat was the evening before. In Delhi and Lucknow the moon was not seen on 19 March, Ramadan ran its full 30 days, and Chand Raat fell on the evening of Friday 20 March, with Eid on Saturday. For 2027 the central government's holiday list puts Id-ul-Fitr on Wednesday 10 March, which would make Tuesday 9 March Chand Raat, if the moon agrees.
What happens on Chand Raat
The night is part celebration, part last-minute rush. The order is much the same across Indian cities.
- SunsetThe last iftar
The fast is broken as on every Ramadan evening, and people head out to look for the moon or wait for news on TV, radio and the mosque loudspeaker.
- After the announcement"Chand Mubarak"
Families and neighbours greet each other, and the first "Eid Mubarak" messages go out on phones.
- Evening to late nightThe markets
Families go out for bangles, footwear, attar, caps and the one thing still missing from the Eid outfit. Barbers and beauty parlours have queues.
- At homeMehndi
Women and girls sit together and put mehndi on their hands so the colour is dark by morning.
- In the kitchenFood for the morning
Sevaiyan are roasted, dry fruit is fried and dates are soaked for sheer khurma or kimami sevaiyan, the first dish served on Eid morning. In Bengali homes, handesh are fried for the next day.
- Before the Eid prayerFitra
Every household must pay zakat al-fitr, a fixed charity for each member, before the Eid prayer. Many settle it by Chand Raat so it reaches the poor in time.
Some families also deep-clean the house that night, down to the curtains and the good dinner set, so it is ready for guests. Eidi, the gift of money that elders give children, is usually handed over on Eid day after the prayer. Chand Raat is when the crisp notes and envelopes get sorted.
Where the night is busiest
Chand Raat is a home and neighbourhood night more than a public event, but a few old markets are famous for it. In 2026 the Telangana government allowed shops to stay open until 5 am through Ramzan, and the old bazaars in Hyderabad are at their busiest on this last night.
| City | Where | What people go for |
|---|---|---|
| Hyderabad | Laad Bazaar beside Charminar, Pathergatti, Tolichowki | Lac bangles, pearls, attar, dress material, footwear; haleem, kebabs and marag at late-night eateries before the Ramzan foods disappear for a year |
| Mumbai | Mohammed Ali Road and the lanes around Minara Masjid | The final night of the Ramzan food street: nihari, tandoori chicken, malpua, eaten late into the night |
| Delhi | The lanes around Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi | Bundles of sevaiyan for the morning, kebabs off charcoal grills, biryani outside the mosque |
Not every Muslim family goes out. Many spend the night quietly at home, and some older family members use it for extra prayer. If a friend tells you they are staying in, that is just as much Chand Raat.
What to write
Chand Raat messages are the first good news after a month of fasting. They can be playful. Mention the moon, the mehndi, the shopping or the sheer khurma, and thank the people who woke the house for sehri.
"Chand Raat Mubarak" and "Chand Mubarak" both work, from anyone, and you can send "Eid Mubarak" from the moment the moon is announced. The usual reply is "Khair Mubarak". The one thing to avoid is sending wishes on the wrong night. If your friend is in Kerala and you are in Delhi, their Chand Raat may be a day before yours, so wait for the announcement where they live.
Chand Raat Mubarak! The moon is out and the fasts are done. Hope your mehndi dries in time and the sheer khurma is already on the stove. See you after namaz tomorrow.
Ammi, Abbu, Chand Raat Mubarak. A whole month of sehri alarms, and you never missed one. Rest tonight. Tomorrow the house will be full.
Chand Raat Mubarak, jaan. The kurta is ironed, the sevaiyan are roasted and the moon is up. Thank you for getting through this Ramadan with me.
Chand Raat Mubarak from home. Someone has already posted the moon photo in the family group. Your Eidi is waiting, and so is your plate of sevaiyan.
Heard the moon has been sighted. Chand Raat Mubarak, and Eid Mubarak in advance to you and your family. Enjoy the shopping tonight and forget about work tomorrow.
Chand Raat Mubarak. Chand nazar aa gaya, kal Eid hai. Allah aap ke saare roze qubool kare. (A blessed moon night. The moon has been seen and tomorrow is Eid. May God accept all your fasts.)
چاند رات مبارک۔ چاند نظر آ گیا، کل عید ہے۔ اللہ آپ کے سارے روزے قبول کرے۔ (A blessed moon night. The moon has been seen and tomorrow is Eid. May God accept all your fasts.)
चाँद रात मुबारक। चाँद नज़र आ गया, कल ईद है। अल्लाह आपके सारे रोज़े क़बूल करे। (A blessed moon night. The moon has been seen and tomorrow is Eid. May God accept all your fasts.)
For the days before and after, see Ramadan, Jumat-ul-Vida, the last Friday of the fast, and Eid al-Fitr itself.
How to wish someone on Chand Raat
A Chand Raat wish is the first, happy news of Eid: the moon is up and the fasts are done. It can mention the moon, the mehndi, the last-minute shopping or the sevaiyan on the stove. \"Chand Raat Mubarak\" and \"Chand Mubarak\" are the usual greetings, and \"Eid Mubarak\" starts tonight too. Wait for the moon to be announced in the recipient's city before you send it, because the night can move by a day.
Write a few lines in your own words, pick a design and share it as one link on WhatsApp, Instagram or anywhere else. They open an animated card made just for them, with no app and no sign-up.
Language tip: English, Urdu + Hindi.
When is Chand Raat in each year?
Chand Raat is set by the Islamic lunar (Hijri) calendar, so it falls on a different date each year. In 2027 it falls 11 days earlier than in 2026.
- 2026
- 2027may vary by location
- 2028may vary by location
Frequently asked questions
When is Chand Raat in 2027?
Chand Raat 2027 falls on Tuesday, 9 March 2027. The exact date can vary by location and local calendar, so confirm with your community.
What does Chand Raat mean?
Chand Raat means "night of the moon" in Hindustani. It is the evening the new crescent of Shawwal is sighted at the end of Ramadan, which makes the following day Eid al-Fitr.
What happens if the moon is not seen on the 29th of Ramadan?
If the Shawwal moon is not sighted on the evening of the 29th, Muslims fast one more day and Ramadan completes 30 days. Chand Raat then falls on the next evening, and Eid follows the morning after.
Can I say Eid Mubarak on Chand Raat?
Yes. Once the moon has been announced, many people send "Eid Mubarak" the same night, along with "Chand Raat Mubarak" or "Chand Mubarak". Just don't send it before the announcement, because the fast may still have a day to run.
Why do women apply mehndi on Chand Raat?
Mehndi takes several hours to darken, so it is put on the night before Eid to look its best in the morning. In many South Asian homes, sisters, cousins and friends sit together and do each other's hands.
Is there a Chand Raat before Bakrid?
The name usually means the eve of Eid al-Fitr. The date of Eid al-Adha is known about ten days ahead, because it falls on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, so its eve has no wait for the moon and is rarely called Chand Raat.
Why is Chand Raat on different nights in different parts of India?
India has no single moon-sighting authority, and committees in Kerala, Kashmir, Delhi and Lucknow can reach different decisions. When the moon is seen in one region and not another, Chand Raat and Eid fall a day apart.
Last verified by the Kehdoo team on .