Ramadan 2026: First Friday roza in India today — Check Sehri and Iftar timings for Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad

Ramadan 2026: Today is the first Friday of Ramadan, the month of fasting in Islam, which began in India on Thursday.

Ramadan, also spelt as Ramazan, is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar (Hijri) and marks 29 or 30 days of fasting, prayer, and reflection observed by Muslims worldwide. Muslims across India are observing the second day of fasting on Friday, the day which brings even more religious significance to the religious practice

Even outside Ramadan, Friday is considered the holiest day of the week in Islam. It holds special religious, spiritual, and communal importance.

Congregational prayer (Salat al-Jumu'ah) is offered in the afternoon on the day. Muslims gather at the mosque for a special Friday prayer held just after noon (Dhuhr time).

Dawn-to-dusk fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam during which devout Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, evil thoughts and actions, and having marital relations from dawn until sunset.

When does Ramadan 2026 start in India?

So, after sunset today, mosques across India began announcing the moon's sighting. Announcement in the national capital comes from Jama Masjid.

The Shahi Imam of Aishbagh Idgah, Maulana Khamid Rasheed Farangi Mahalo, in Lucknow, announced on Wednesday evening that the crescent had been sighted and that the first roza would be on Thursday. Other cities like Hyderabad and Bhopal also announce moon sightings, marking the beginning of Ramadan.

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Sadar Majlis-e-Ulama-e-Deccan, also known as the Moon Sighting Committee in Hyderabad, has announced the first day of Ramadan 2026 in India. As the crescent moon has been sighted today, the month will begin on Thursday, 19 February in Hyderabad.

Sehri and Iftar timings of Ramadan 2026

Sehri is the pre-fast meal before sunrise, beginning Thursday. Each day of fasting finishes with iftar, after sunset.

The Sehri and Iftar timings change by a few minutes each day in accordance with the sunrise and sunset timings. It is different for different cities.

In Delhi, for example, if the first roza is on Thursday, 19 February, the devotees start their fast by stopping eating and drinking at 5.37 AM – the end of Sehri. Muslims will observe a fast for about 12 hours and break the fast at 6.15 PM, called Iftar.

Sehri and Iftar timings also vary among Muslims, depending on the Sunni and Shia communities. The difference is usually of a few minutes.