Eid-Ul-Adha

Islam is one of the most widely practiced religions in the world. Their festivals are filled with traditional values, feelings of togetherness, a lot of bright colors, great food and above all a festive spirit which grabs the attention of one and all. There are two main festivals which are celebrated by Muslims the world over; Eid-Ul-Fitr and Eid–Ul-Adha.

Eid-Ul-Adha is the Muslim festival which is known as the festival of sacrifice. It is known by different names in different countries. It is called Korbani Id in Bangladesh, Lebaran Haji in Indonesia, Bakra Eid in Pakistan, South Africa and India etc.

Eid-Ul-Adha comes in Dhul Hijja which is a month in the Islamic lunar calendar. The festival starts on the tenth day of this month and then goes on for four days. About seventy days after the holy month of Ramadan is the time when pilgrims would have visited the Holy shrine of Mecca and the next day is Eid-Ul-Adha.

This four day long celebration starts with the prayer which is normally short and then there is a sermon which gives a message to all the people celebrating this festival. This festival is actually a commemoration.

Ibrahim according to Islam who is known as Abraham in Christianity was ordered by Allah to come to a particular mountain with his only son and then sacrifice him their. Ibrahim didn’t question god even as his only son Ishmael was born after many long years of waiting. On the mountain when he was about to sacrifice his son, a holy voice commanded him to stop and sacrifice a lamb instead which was present in the bushes behind them. This is thus a festival to commemorate his willingness to sacrifice his only son at the command of Allah.

Eid-Ul-Adha is a time when people world over sacrifice a grazing animal to remember the willingness of Ibrahim and the greatness of Allah. Every Muslim male and female who possesses the hijab has to sacrifice an animal. Sacrificing a goat will suffice for one person and the sacrifice of a cow etc will suffice for seven people. Many people call this sacrifice as qurbani. This is not an apt word. The correct word to be used for sacrifices made during Eid-Ul-Adha is Udhiya. A feast is then held where everyone sits together and eats the meat of the sacrificed animal. Many poor people who can’t afford meat all through the year get to eat meat only on Eid-Ul-Adha.

This festival is still celebrated in its true essence. People wear new clothes, they dress up in bright colors, a lot of tasty dishes are prepared which are rare delicacies, gifts are given to one and all, the customs of each country are followed, the poor are fed etc. Eid-Ul-Adha falls on the same day each year according to the Islamic lunar calendar. Only in countries where the Gregorian calendar is followed the date is different each year. Eid-Ul-Adha or the sacrifice feast is a time when differences are forgotten and celebrations take place together.