Eid is a festival of Muslims that is celebrated all over the world. Eid-ul-Adha is also known as the festival of sacrifice and sacrifice feast. Eid- ul- Adha is celebrated on the tenth day of Dhuj Hijja, the Islamic month according to the lunar Islamic calendar. Eid- ul- Adha accurs approximately seventy days after the end of Ramadan month. The festival of Eid- ul- Adha is celebrated in the remembrance of prophet Abraham’s readiness to forfeit Ishmael, his son for god. The story about this festival tells, how Abraham was ready to kill his son and remained true to God. The story tells, how Allah told Abraham, to lift up the foundation of Kaaba that was a holy place in Mecca.

God also asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, in a dream. Abraham along with his son started moving towards Mina for the sacrifice. Some of the daemons tried to direct Abraham away from his way but Abraham was true to god and as he was just set to kill his son, God stopped him and gave him a sheep to sacrifice instead of sacrificing his son. This festival is thereby said to be a festival of sacrifice. Some people celebrate Eid- ul- Adha because it ends the pilgrimage or Hajj for those Muslims who make a trip to Mecca each year.

Just like Eid- ul- Fitr, Eid- ul - Adha also commences with a small prayer followed by Khutba. The delivery of this Khutba is done from Mount Arafat in Mecca. It is assumed that Eid- ul- Adha should last for three days but some of the Islamic traditions think that Eid- ul- Fitr last for three days and Eid- ul- Adha last for four days.

Eid Ul Adha Rituals

The first day of Eid- ul- Adha is a holiday and all the members of the family dress up in new and beautiful clothes to carry out the Eid- ul- Adha prayers (Salah) in large groups. On this day all the Muslims forfeit their domestic animals like sheep and goat representing Abraham’s forfeit. This forfeit made by Muslims is known as “Qurban”. Once the animal is sacrificed then the meat of the animal is distributed among the friends, relatives, neighbors and poor people. Muslims communities on this day take care that no poor and needy Muslim is missed out to provide the sacrificial food.

Different Names Of Eid Ul Adha

Eid Ul Adha is known through several names all over the world like, "Kurban Bayrami" or "Sacrifice Feast". In Singapore and Malaysia it is known as Hari Raya Haji. In West Africa it is known as Tabaski. In South East Asia it is known as Hari Raya Aidiladha Among Indians it is known as Id al-Adha or Idu’z Zuha. In Bangladesh it is known as either Eid-ul-Azha or Id al-Adha. One can see that this festival of Eid-Ul-Adha is known through so many names in different parts of the country but the spirit to celebrate this festival among all the Muslims remain the same irrespective of the location.