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Wednesday, November 18, 2009 RIYADH: Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday, November 17, `Eid Al-Adha’, one of the two main religious festivals on the Islamic calendar, will fall on Friday, November 27, Geo news reported."The new moon of Dhul-Hijjah was sighted by trusted witnesses on Tuesday in a number of provinces," the Supreme Judicial Council said in a statement published by the state-run Saudi Press Agency."Thus, Wednesday, November 18, will mark the beginning of the lunar month of Dhul-Hijjah."This means pilgrims will climb Mount `Arafat, where Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) delivered his last sermon 14 centuries ago, on Thursday, November 26.Standing on Mount `Arafat before sunset marks the climax of hajj and pilgrims who fail to make it on time must repeat their pilgrimage in future.Every able-bodied adult Muslim -- who can financially afford the trip -- must perform hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, once in their lifetime.Muslims worldwide will then celebrate `Eid Al-Adha’, which marks the end of hajj, on Friday, November 27.
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