Muslims to Observe Ramadan Twice in One Gregorian Year After More Than Three Decades

Muslims around the world observe the holy month of **Ramadan once a year** and celebrate **Eid-ul-Fitr once** at its conclusion. However, an unusual phenomenon occurs every **32 to 33 years**, when Ramadan and Eid fall **twice within the same Gregorian year** due to differences between the Islamic lunar calendar and the Gregorian calendar.

Currently, Muslims worldwide are awaiting the arrival of Ramadan, which is now less than a month and a half away. Under normal circumstances, Ramadan occurs once a year, followed by a single celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr. But because the Islamic lunar year is **10 to 11 days shorter** than the Gregorian year, Ramadan gradually shifts earlier each year, eventually resulting in two occurrences within one Gregorian year.

According to experts, this rare situation will occur again in **2030**, when Muslims will welcome **two Ramadans in a single year**. Similarly, in **2033**, Eid-ul-Fitr will also be celebrated **twice in the same year**.

The Gregorian calendar consists of **365 days**, or **366 days in a leap year**, whereas the Islamic lunar calendar comprises **354 or 355 days**. This annual difference accumulates over decades, leading to the overlap.

Historically, the last time Ramadan occurred twice in one year was **1997**, while Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated twice in **2000**.

Astronomers estimate that in **2030**, the first Ramadan may begin around **January 5**, while the second could start around **December 26**. The January Ramadan is expected to last **29 or 30 days**, while the December Ramadan will include approximately **six fasting days**, resulting in a total of **35 to 36 fasts** in that year.

Similarly, in **2033**, Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to be observed for the first time around **January 2 or 3**, and again around **December 23 or 24**.

For the current year, Ramadan is likely to begin between **February 17 and 18**, although the final announcement will be made by respective **moon sighting committees** in each country.

Experts emphasize that while astronomical calculations help predict dates, the **official start of Ramadan is determined by moon sighting**. Countries such as **Pakistan and Saudi Arabia** rely primarily on visual observation, while some other nations follow scientific calculations.