Dhaka: Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday that Eid-ul-Azha, one of two important religious holidays observed by Muslims around the world, will start on Thursday, 24 September, a day earlier than expected, Al Arabiya News Channel reported on Sunday.

The announcement was made after the kingdom’s official moon-sighting body watched for the Dhul Hijjah crescent, which is the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar.

The Islamic lunar calendar depends on sightings of the moon — a practice which can at times prove difficult.

Eid-ul-Azha honors the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his promised son, Ishmael as an act of submission to God’s command. It is separate from Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Eid celebrations start after the descent of the pilgrims performing from Mount Arafat, a hill east of Makkah. Eid sacrifices — where an animal, often a goat, is slaughtered — may take place until sunset on the 13th day of Dhul Hijjah.