|
Malegaon: Millions of Muslims
in India and around the world
are celebrating the annual Eid al-Adha - the festival known for
sacrifice, which coincides
with the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi
Arabia.
While the festival is celebrated in
the Indian sub-continent today, it was celebrated a day before in
the Arabian Peninsula and some other parts of the world.
Men, women and children dressed in
new clothes were seen offering the special Eid prayer in all the
Indian cities and towns today morning. After the prayers, animals
will be sacrificed in a tribute to Prophet Abraham.
Eid-ul-Adha, or the "Feast of the Sacrifice", is one of the
biggest events in the Muslim calendar, marking Prophet Abraham's
willingness to sacrifice his own son as an act of obedience to
God. At the last minute, God intervened, and gave Abraham a ram to
sacrifice instead.
Traditionally, Muslims sacrifice an animal at Eid and share the
meat with their families, neighbours, and people less fortunate
than themselves.
On November 05 Saturday, vast crowds of pilgrims dressed in white to symbolise
purity and equality under God - marked the beginning of the annual
Hajj pilgrimage by climbing Mount Arafat, just outside the Saudi
Arabian city of Mecca, where Islam's Prophet Muhammad is said to
have delivered his farewell sermon.
The ascent of Arafat is the first event associated with the
five-day Hajj, a time to seek forgiveness for one's sins and for
individual meditation on the faith.
Hajj consists of a series of detailed rituals in Mina, Muzdalifa,
Arafat and Mecca.
One of the five pillars of Islam, Hajj is a religious duty that
must be carried out at least once by every able-bodied Muslim who
can afford it.
|
Comments
|
Quick links