New Delhi: Bakri-Eid is an annual is festival celebrated by the Muslim community all over the world. This day is marked to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s sacrifice and dedication. According to the Islamic lunar calender, this festival is usually celebrated on the 10th day of Dhu-al Hijjah. The Gregorian calendar’s date, however, varies annually.
The festival comes nearly two months after Eid-ul-Fitr, the one which arrives after the holy month of Ramazan or Ramadan.
It is the second most important festival of Muslims as the day marks the sacrifice of cattle: goat, sheep, camel, buffalo in whatever number a person can afford. This day is also known as Eid Qurban or Qurban Bayarami.
Eid-al-Adha festival marks and revers the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command. According to the Quran, it is said that before Prophet Ibrahim or Abraham could sacrifice his son, God provided a ram to sacrifice instead.
In commemoration of this, Muslims across the world sacrifice a male goat and divide it into three parts: one-third of the share is given to the poor and needy; another third is given to relatives, friends, and neighbours; and the remaining third is retained by the family.
The second Eid or Eid-ul-Adha also marks the end of Hajj, the pilgrimage that takes Muslims to the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
On this special day, Ibrahim’s obedience is re-enacted with the symbolic sacrifice of a lamb, goat, cow, camel, or other animals. The sacrifice is then equally divided into three parts to be shared among family, friends and the needy.
