In 2029, 2030, and 2031, two major religious celebrations, Eid al-Fitr and Chinese New Year, will take place very close to each other. This phenomenon, known as "Kongsi Raya" or "Gongxi Raya," is a rare occurrence in the international calendar.
Proximity of the Celebrations
Year 2029:
- Chinese New Year: February 13
- Eid al-Fitr: February 15
Year 2030:
- Chinese New Year: February 3
- Eid al-Fitr: February 4
Year 2031
- Chinese New Year: January 23
- Eid al-Fitr: January 24
Why Does This Phenomenon Occur?
This phenomenon occurs due to the differences in the calendar systems used to determine the dates of these two celebrations. Chinese New Year follows the Chinese lunisolar calendar, which combines both lunar and solar calculations.
As a result, its date always falls between January 20 and February 19 each year.
On the other hand, Eid al-Fitr is based on the Islamic lunar calendar, which strictly follows the moon's cycles. This calendar consists of 354 or 355 days per year, making it about 10–11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, which has 365 or 366 days.
Consequently, Eid al-Fitr shifts earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar.
This annual shift causes the two celebrations to occasionally fall close together or even coincide approximately every 33 years. The last time this occurred was from 1996 to 1998, and it will happen again from 2029 to 2031.
Kongsi Raya: Harmony in Diversity
In countries with significant Muslim and Chinese populations, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, this moment serves as a symbol of intercultural harmony. The tradition of visiting one another, sharing traditional dishes, and celebrating together strengthens social bonds across ethnic and religious communities.
