EID-UL-ZUHA also called EID-UL-AZHA in arabic and BAKRA-EID in indian subcontinent , because of tradition of sacrificing a goat or ” bakra” in urdu.
The word eid is derived from the arabic word ” iwa ” means festival and ” zuha ” comes from ” uzhaiya ” which translates to sacrifice . On this day , muslims sacrifice a goat or bakra to commemorate the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim , who willingly agreed to kill his son at the behest of god .
This festival coincides with Haj pilgrimage in Mecca . Prayers are offered in the mosque and sacrificed meat is then distributed after the eid prayers . Special delicacies are prepared and served among family and friends . This famous festival is celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety in India . Muslim people generally wear fresh new traditional dress that is white kurta pajama on this day . Usually people wear white dresses on this day because white is the symbol of peace .
The path which leads to god is of love , peace and devotion . There is a small story which forms the basis of celebrating this festival .
The festival of bakra-eid is a commemoration of Hazrat Ibrahim ‘s great test of obedience of allah , who ordered him to sacrifice the person dearest to him . Ibrahim then decided to sacrifice his son Ismail , at Meena near Mecca . As the great religious leader was on the point of applying the sword to the throat of his dear son Ismail , it was revealed to him that the exercise was merely a test of his faith in allah and that he could sacrifice a goat instead. Since from then bakra-eid is celebrated on the tenth day of Zil Hijja that is the month of the lunar Islamic calendar .
By – SHEEBA PARVEEN
