India, Feb. 18 -- The crescent moon was sighted in India on Wednesday evening, marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Ramzan from Thursday, several moon sighting committees confirmed.

The sighting of the crescent marks the beginning of Ramzan (or Ramadan in Arabic), the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

Maulana Mufti Mukarram Ahmed, the Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri mosque, confirmed that the crescent moon was seen in Delhi and that fasting will begin from Thursday. Syed Shaban Bukhari, who is the Naib Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, also declared that the moon was sighted.

A statement from Darul Quaza Imarat Shariah, which looks after the religious affairs in Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha, said the crescent was seen in parts of Bih...