RR.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) will hold an isbat session to determine 1 Shawwal 1447 H on March 19, 2026, coinciding with the 29th of Ramadan 1447 H, at the H.M. Rasjidi Auditorium, Ministry of Religious Affairs Office, Jakarta.

An isbat session is a formal meeting held by the government to decide the start of Islamic months, particularly the beginning of 1 Shawwal, which marks Eid al-Fitr, the festival that concludes the fasting month of Ramadan. The decision is based on a combination of hisab (astronomical calculations) and rukyat (direct observation of the crescent moon).

The Director General of Islamic Community Guidance at the ministry, Abu Rokhmad, said preparations for the session have been carried out according to procedure, covering both substantive and technical aspects.

“The decision will be based on verified hisab (astronomical calculations) and rukyat (direct observation) reports from various regions, through a mechanism open to the public,” he said in Jakarta on Sunday, March 1, 2026, as quoted on the ministry's official website.

The H.M. Rasjidi Auditorium was chosen again as the venue following renovations in several rooms. The location was selected for technical reasons, including its representative space for invited guests and relatively quiet office environment during the Eid al-Fitr holiday period, which facilitates access and parking arrangements.

The session will involve a wide range of participants, including astronomy experts, representatives of Islamic community organizations, and institutions such as the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), as well as planetariums, observatories, and other relevant agencies.

Director of Islamic Religious Affairs and Sharia Development, Arsad Hidayat, added that technical coordination for crescent moon monitoring across Indonesia has been strengthened. Supporting infrastructure, a reporting system for rukyat observations, and synchronization with monitoring posts have been prepared to ensure an orderly and accurate process.

The series of events will begin with a seminar on the position of the crescent moon, followed by verification of rukyat reports from across Indonesia. The isbat session will then be held, culminating in the official announcement of 1 Shawwal 1447 H by the Minister of Religious Affairs.

The ministry has urged the public to await the official results of the isbat session as the common reference for celebrating Eid al-Fitr. ***