Eid Al-Adha 2019: Date, significance, importance and celebration history of Bakrid

Eid-ul-Adha, popularly known as Bakra Eid or Bakrid, is being celebrated by over two million Muslims across the globe today. The 'Festival of Sacrifice', which is the last major ritual of the Hajj pilgrimage, honours the willingness of Ibrahim, the founding father of Islam, to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God's command. To celebrate the day, Muslims men, women and children step out in their new finery and offer prayers at Idgah and greet each other. They feast on the goat's meat and also distribute it among poor.

Date:

As per the Islamic calendar, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the lunar year. However, the dates vary from year to year shifting approximately 11 days earlier from the previous one. The celebration heralds the culmination of Hajj, an annual pilgrimage, which the followers of Islam are required to undertake to Makkah once in their lives. Some Muslims observe this Eid for three days.

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History and Significance:

The festival commemorates the readiness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his 10-year-old son Ismail in order to prove his obedience to Allah. Moved by this devotion, God, however, sent his angel Jibra'il or Gabriel, who replaced Ibrahim's son with a goat and asked him to sacrifice the animal instead of his son. From this day onwards, Muslims around the world sacrifice one of their dearest animals for their beloved Allah to prove their utmost love and devotion to him.

Post that, a feast is prepared out of the offerings and is divided into three parts. While the first part is distributed among family, friends and neighbours, the second part is for the poor and needy. The last part is prepared for the immediate family. Going by the tradition, anyone should not be left hungry on this Sacrificial Feast.

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Eid-ul-Adha Food:

Special dishes made on the occasion of Bakrid include mutton biryani, mutton korma, mutton keema and bhuni kaleji. Sheer kurma and kheer are the most popular among other desserts prepared for the feast.