Eid al-Fitr

Eid al-Fitr begins on 1 Shawwal and closes Ramadan, when observant Muslims fast from dawn to sunset and emphasise prayer, charity and good deeds. Zakat al-Fitr is given before the festival prayer so people in need can share the celebration. Madagascar's Muslim community fixes the Gregorian date under the annual decree rather than the calendar relying on a projection alone.

Muslim communities are present across Madagascar, with important histories in northwestern coastal areas and urban centres. Worshippers attend morning prayer, exchange greetings, visit relatives and share food. Malagasy Muslims are internally diverse, including communities with Comorian, South Asian and other connections; no single menu, language or dress custom should be assigned to all.

Decree No. 2026-006 declares this a public holiday that is non-working and paid for all covered workers. The Labour Ministry confirmed Friday, March 20 across the whole territory under Article 2 of the decree; later years await a new community and government announcement. Article 5 makes closure obligatory but permits establishments and worker categories whose activity cannot stop to operate under the applicable ministerial list. The decree supplies no general next-Monday substitution: a Sunday creates no additional occurrence unless a separate decree expressly does so.