March 19, 2026 | 12:32 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) participated in the observation of the hilal (crescent moon) at 37 points across Indonesia on Thursday, March 19, 2026. This activity is part of the process to determine the Eid al-Fitr or 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah.
The BMKG's moon-sighting observation was announced through their official Instagram account @infobmkg on March 18, 2026. The results of the moon-sighting observation using BMKG's special telescope will be used as a guide for the moon-sighting observers appointed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
In addition, the data from BMKG's calculations (hisab) and direct observation will be reported in the isbat session as considerations for the official determination of the Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah. "The data on the moon calculation and observation results conducted by BMKG will be reported in the isbat session of the Ministry of Religious Affairs on March 19, 2026," @infobmkg wrote on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Based on BMKG's calculation, the height of the hilal on March 19, 2026 has met the criteria set by MABIMS (the Ministers of Religious Affairs of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore), which is a minimum of 3 degrees. However, the elongation value of the hilal is still below the threshold of the criteria, making the chances of sighting the hilal considered small. The elongation value according to MABIMS must be at least 6.4 degrees.
"The height of the hilal already meets the MABIMS criteria, but the elongation is still below the MABIMS criteria, hence the potential sighting of the hilal is also small," it stated.
However, the BMKG emphasized that they do not have the authority to determine the beginning of the Hijriah month. The official decision regarding the Eid al-Fitr will still await the results of the isbat session to be announced by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs will hold the isbat session to determine the 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah tonight. Head of the Ministry of Religious Affairs' Public Relations Bureau, Thobib Al Asyhar, said there are two possible dates for Eid this year. "Whether it falls on March 20, which means coinciding with Muhammadiyah, or March 21 through istikmal," said Thobib when confirmed on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Previously, the Central Leadership of Muhammadiyah and the Islamic Union (Persis) had already determined the 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah. Eid for Muhammadiyah followers falls on Jumat Legi, March 20, 2026. Meanwhile, Persis determined the beginning of Syawal on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Read: Indonesia to Hold Isbat Session Today to Set Eid Date
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