The Muslim Eid Al-Fitr holiday will begin in Egypt on Sunday, Dar El-Iftaa, the country's institution for religious edicts, announced on Friday. "The Shawwal crescent moon was not visible across the country … Saturday will be the last day of Ramadan," Egypt's Grand Mufti Shawki Allam said in a televised statement. The annual three-day Islamic holiday, which marks the end of the month of Ramdan and is celebrated by Muslims worldwide, will be extended this year in Egypt to five days -- from 24 to 28 May -- as the country attempts to reduce crowding during the religious holiday, which is typically associated with family gatherings and packed public places. Last week, Egypt's cabinet issued a decree giving five days off work for all employees in public and private sectors during Eid Al-Fitr. This year, Muslims in Egypt and around the world are witnessing the religious feast amid unprecedented restrictions and preventative measures due to the coronavirus pandemic. The country has prolonged the curfew hours during the religious holiday, bringing forward its start to 5 pm instead of 9 pm, as part of its bid to curb the spread of the contagion. The Eid's measures include shutting malls and parks and suspending public transport. The suspension of public transport includes mass transit, underground metro, public buses and intercity trains nationwide. Those who violate the measures face fines of up to EGP 4,000 ($252) or imprisonment. The mass Eid El-Fitr prayers will be performed at home this year as mosques continue to be closed. Starting 30 May, and for two weeks, the curfew will run from 8 pm to 6 am, as the country aims to gradually reopen more businesses and some venues including sporting clubs and restaurants from mid-June. Eid Al-Fitr is one of the two religious holidays in Islam, along with Eid Al-Adha, which falls on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar.
