India - the most populous democracy in the world.The 7th largest and the 2nd most populous country in the world.Expected to be the world's most populous country by year 2025, India has more than 40 festivals. These festivals play an important role in defining the culture of India.
With the 3rd largest Muslim population after Indonesia and Pakistan, India, celebrates Muslim festivals with full enthusiasm. Eid-ul-Zuha is one such festival and also one of the two Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims. People dressed in their finest attires perform Eid prayers known as Namaz in an open areaknown as theEidgaah.
Mohammad Nafis is a local politician from Old Delhi and a well-known person in his neighborhood. It is a matter of prestige for him to celebrate the festival and share the blessings with his friends and relatives. As per Indian tradition he lives in a joint family with his younger brother Mohammad Zaki. Together the whole family is celebrating Eid-ul-zuha.
Known as the feast of sacrifice, Eid is celebrated in the honour of Ibrahim, an Islamic prophet, who was willing to sacrifice his son Ismail on the command of the Lord -- Allah. Muslim belief says that Allah replaced Ismail with a lamb just when Ibrahim was about to slit his throat. The tradition has since then been a part of the Islamic religion and Muslims follow the ritual of sacrifice orQurbani.
Qurbaniis a religious rite of slaughtering a domesticated animal as an offering to Allah. Cows, Camels, Goats or Sheep are sacrificed depending on the region. In India the traditional domestic animal that is sacrificedon Eidis agoat or sheep, giving the festival another name -- BakriEid. Bakri means goat in Hindi. Mohammad Nafis and his brother Mohammad Zakifollow the same tradition. A few days prior to Eid the family got its pet -- a goat to be raised for sacrifice. As per ritual, an animal is raised in the house as a pet and is taken care of. Mohammad Nafis' family takes care of the goat as a member of the family. They feed, bathe and care for it just like any family would do for their pet. The kids along with other members get attached to the goat, which is later sacrificed. Mohammad Nafisand his brother bought two goats worth Rs.10, 000 or roughly $ 200 each for the ritual.
Special cattle fairs are held across India, and the livestock business booms as the festival approaches. People from different economic sects spend according totheir ability. The most holy goat with special qualities is auctionedto the highest bidder. The average price for agoat starts from5,000 rupees or a hundred dollarsand can goup to a lakhof rupeesor roughly around 2,000 dollars. Breeders and suppliers wait forEid to sell their best stock at desired price and people willingly pay as much as 4 lac Rs. or 4, 000 US dollars for one goat or sheep. All this to please Allah as traditionally, the sacrificial lamb has to be chosen carefully. It should be of a strong physique, healthy and without any deformities or wounds.
As is the case with other festivals, Eid-ul-Zuha is also celebrated with the families getting up earlyin the morning and praying to the lord. Women traditionally perform Namaz at home. Mohammad Nafis along with his brother alongwith their male children and young daughters go to the Mosque for the mass congregation.JamaMasjid in old Delhi is crowded with Muslim devotees. Muslim men dressed in festive clothes gather at mosques for mass prayers. After the prayer they greet family and friends by hugging and wishing themEidMubaraqorHappy Eid. Charity during this season is important and is done generously. Beggars rush to nearby mosques to seek alms from people.
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