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New Delhi:
The livestock markets in Old Delhi's Jama Masjid area are
witnessing high footfalls and doing brisk business as Muslims gear
up to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha Monday. The most expensive goat this
year is priced at Rs.1.5 lakh!
"Due to natural patterns, one side of this goat's back reads
'Allah' while the other side has 'Muhammad' etched on it," said
Mohammed Sabir standing next to Chanda the goat, which is adorned
with a garland and coloured frills.
However, a similar goat last year, though much healthier, had a
price tag of a whopping Rs.4.5 lakh.
"My goat is not so fat and that is why it is comparatively cheap.
Its weight is around 20-25 kg," added Sabir, who has come here
from Uttar Pradesh to sell the animal. "But her coat and teeth are
perfect," he adds hurriedly.
Muslims across the globe celebrate Eid-ul-Azha to mark the day
when Prophet Ibrahim was even willing to sacrifice his son Ismail
to please Allah. According to Muslim belief, Allah replaced Ismail
with a sheep just as Ibrahim was about to slit the throat of his
son. Hence the tradition of sacrificing an animal.
Catching eyeballs in Old Delhi is a twin pair of white-coloured
sheep from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Weighing around 50 kg each,
the duo can set you back by Rs.2.67 lakh.
"I call them Badhshah and Raja and have been looking after them
for the last six months, feeding them on time and taking care of
their health," said Alam Huzoor, their owner.
According to shopkeepers, the popular breeds are Mewati, Barbari,
Desi and Totapuri which have arrived from neighbouring sates like
Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and are mostly priced between Rs.5,000
and Rs.10,000.
According to tradition, a sacrificial goat has to be selected
carefully. It should be healthy, with a strong physique, and
should not have any deformities.
"Goats with two and four teeth are middle-aged and ideal for
slaughtering. The ones with six teeth are old and must be
avoided," a buyer, Faisal Khan, said.
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