New Delhi, Feb. 24 -- As the Islamic world prepares for Ramadan (also spelled as Ramzan, Ramzaan, or Ramazan), millions of Muslims eagerly await the sighting of the crescent moon - a moment that signifies the beginning of the holiest month in Islam. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which follows the sun, the Hijri (lunar) calendar is based on the moon cycle and is 10-11 days shorter each year. This means that Ramadan shifts slightly earlier annually, bringing with it a renewed sense of spiritual commitment and anticipation.

The excitement begins as soon as the sun sets on the last day of Shabaan, the month preceding Ramadan, when moon sighters around the world face the western horizon, scanning the sky for the delicate sliver of the new cr...