**Bhubaneswar:** Despite the prevailing tension following group clashes at Soro, Kendrapada and Rourkela, Bakri-Eid is being celebrated with full religious enthusiasm across the State here.
In Kendrapada, around 1200 people have come out for mass prayers in the old Dargah at 8:30 a.m. In new Idgah ground, 900 Muslims gathered for the holy prayer.
Similarly, people have come together for offering their prayers in mass in various mosques and fields all across the State.
“We are celebrating this to commemorate the sacrifice made by our holy leader, Prophet Ibrahim,” informed Gulam Mustafa, Maulvi of Kendrapada.
Eid al-Adha is Islam’s holiest festival celebrated annually around the world and an official holiday in Muslim-majority countries. It is celebrated every year by the Muslim community across the world as per the Hijri calendar. Muslims indulge in celebrating it with much fun and fervour.
Bakra-Id is celebrated all over India with much zeal and gusto as it is in the rest of the Islamic world. The name Bakra-Id is most popular in India. However in Arabic, the feast is usually referred to as Id-ul-Azha or Id-ul-Zuha.
Just like Ramadan and Eid ul-Fitr, Bakra Eid too is celebrated with grand enthusiasm and magnificence. festival commemorates the faith of Prophet Ibrahim in God, when he agreed to sacrifice his son upon the order by God.
This holy festival of Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijjah (twelfth and last month) of the Hijri calendar followed by the Muslims. The celebrations are spread across three days from the 10th to the 12th day. These celebrations begin after the completion of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage performed by Muslims in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Hajj serves as one of the five pillars of Islam. This means, a Muslim has to perform Hajj at least once during their lifetime, unless they are debarred due to lack of finances or ill-health.
The day is commemorated by slaughtering domestic animals, such as goat, sheep, lamb, camel, buffalo and so on. This meat is divided into three parts. While the first is eaten by the family, the second is distributed amongst relatives and the third part is given to the poor and needy. The animal sacrifices made during Bakra-Id are mainly to provide food to the poor and deprived and to mark the noble act of Ibrahim.
Festivities mark the first day, when people wear new clothes, offer prayers at the mosque, and greet friends and relatives. The celebrations are carried on through three days to ensure that the entire Muslim community partakes in the noble of act of giving and sharing.
