Festivals of India in the month of October

Bakr-id (Eid ul Zuha)

Jama Masjid, New Delhi

 

Eid-ul-Zuha is also known as Eid-ul-Adha in Arabic and Bakra-Id or Bakrid in the Indian subcontinent . It is also called the Major Festival, the Greater Eid and Bakrid. It is an important 4-day religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to honour the willingness of the prophet Abraham to sacrifice his young first-born son Ishmael as an act of submission to God's command and his son's acceptance to being sacrificed, before God intervened to provide Abraham with a ram to sacrifice instead.

Bakri (Goat)

Muslims around the world believe that Allah (God) commanded Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ishmael. Ibrahim followed God's orders, but his son was replaced by a sheep at the last moment. Muslims celebrate this at Eid al-Adha. Eid al-Adha is called Id-ul-Adha in Arabic and Bakr-Id in the Indian subcontinent, because of the tradition of sacrificing a goat or "bakr" in Urdu. The word "id" derived from the Arabic "iwd" means "festival" and "zuha" comes from "uzhaiyya" which translates to "sacrifice".

On Id-ul-Zuha, special `Dua` (prayer) is recited by thousands of Muslims for peace and prosperity. The wealthy families are expected to sacrifice one animal per family and distribute two-thirds of the meat among poor. Those who cannot afford it, seven or seventy families together offer one animal. A full-grown camel, cow, goat or sheep free from disease, is considered the best offering. The sacrifice, popularly called as 'qurbani' can be offered at any time before the afternoon of the third day. In India, too, goats and sheep are sacrificed all over the country and prayers are offered.

Mehendi-work on hands in Id-Ul-Zuha

Id-ul-Zuha is a festival that is celebrated with traditional fervor and gaiety in India and the world. The Festival of Id-ul-Zuha or Bakrid is celebrated with great enthusiasm among Muslims all over the world. The day normally starts with men and women dressing in the best outfits and proceeding towards Mosque.

Greetings of two friends

Followed with the food sacrifice and charity to poor, Muslims greet each other “Eid Mubarak” and visit the houses of relatives and friends. Special delicacies are prepared and served among family and friends on the occasion. Gifts are also exchanged on this auspicious day.This festival coincides with the Haj pilgrimage in Mecca. Prayers are offered in the mosques and the sacrificial meat is then distributed after the Id prayers.
Special delicacies are prepared and served among family and friends on the occasion.