Eid al-Fitr is celebrated this week by the world's Muslim population. It's an occasion to highlight the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Celebrations have already begun in much of North America.

"This year Eid ul-Fitr will most likely be observed on Monday, July 28, 2014, in the United States, reported the Huffington Post. "It is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Traditionally, the observance begins with the sighting of the new moon. While many will wait to see the moon or an announcement from Mecca, the Fiqh Council of North America has determined that Eid al-Fitr 2014 will fall on July 28 based on astronomical calculations."

"The Astronomical New Moon is on July 26, 2014 (Saturday) at 22:41 Universal Time. (1:41 a.m. on July 27, Makkah time). On July 26, Saturday, sunset at Makkah is 7:03 p.m. and moonset is 6:33 p.m. Moon is born after sunset in Makkah and moon sets before sunset. On July 27, Sunday, sunset at Makkah is 7:02 p.m. and moonset is at 7:14 p.m. Moon is born before sunset, while moonset is after sunset. Therefore, first day of Shawwal, i.e., Eid al-Fitr is July 28, Monday, insha'Allah, " said the council's website.

According to Prothom Alom site, more than 100 villages were celebrating on Monday. "The largest Muslim festival of Eid ul-Fitr is being celebrated at 124 villages of Patuakhali, Chandpur Narayanganj, Moulvibazar, Barguna, Pirojour, Sherpur and Chittagong in the country following the Eid celebration in Saudi Arabia today," the website reported. "Thousands of people of these villages offered their prayers at Eid congregation Monday morning."

In India the nation will celebrate the holiday beginning on Tuesday. "Delhi's Lt Governor Najeeb Jung too extended his warm greetings to the citizens of the National Capital on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr," wrote India.com  "May the Almighty grant his choicest blessings to all the citizens of our great Nation," Jung said in his message. 

As the UK Independent reports, it's often difficult to determine when Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated, which is why it's officially marked on different days in different places. "In the UK, many Muslims are marking Eid al-Fitr on 28 July, which is the date announced by Saudi Arabia and followed by many countries. The difficulty of working out when it should be celebrated has been captured in this handy pie chart, which suggests making a 'moon sighting friend' or waiting for an influx of Eid texts," the website discussed.

Although official prayers an celebrations start this week, in London, a yearly celebration will commence this weekend. "Highlights include a food festival where you can sample a host of delicious cuisines from across the world. There'll be Malaysian, Turkish, South Asian, Egyptian, Lebanese, Indonesian, Arabic and more," according to the City of London's website.