Mangalore: Eid-ul-Azha Celebrated with Gaiety Across District

Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (GA)

Mangalore, Dec 8: Eid-ul-Azha (also known as Eid-ul-Adah) was celebrated with great devotion and pomp by Muslim brethren across the district on Monday December 8. Eid-ul-Azha which is locally known as Haj Pernal, is a festival of sacrifice. It is a commemoration of the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ismail as an act of obedience to God. The devil tempted Ibrahim by saying he should disobey God and spare his son. As Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son, God intervened and instead provided a lamb as the sacrifice. This is why today all over the world Muslims who have the means to, sacrifice an animal (usually a goat or a sheep), as a reminder of Ibrahim's obedience to God. The meat is then shared out with family, friends (Muslims or non-Muslims), as well as the poor members of the community.

Eid-ull-Azha is the latter of two Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims, whose basis comes from the Quran. Like Eid el-Fitr, Eid al-Azha begins with a short prayer followed by a sermon.

Eid-ul-Azha annually falls on the tenth day of the month of Dhul Hijja of the lunar Islamic calendar. The festivities last for two to three days or more depending on the country. Eid-ul-Azha occurs the day after the pilgrims conducting Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide, descend from Mount Arafat. It happens to be approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan.

Men, women, and children are expected to dress in their finest clothing to perform Eid prayer in any mosque. Muslims who can afford to do so sacrifice their best domestic animals (usually sheep) as a symbol of Ibrahim's (Abraham's) sacrifice. The sacrificed animals, called 'qurbani', have to meet certain age and quality standards or else the animal is considered an unacceptable sacrifice. Generally, these must be at least a year old. At the time of sacrifice, Allah's name is recited along with the offering statement and a supplication as Muhammad said.

The Haj Pernal was celebrated with joy across the DK district. Men and women dressed in new attire were seen thronging the nearby mosque to offer prayers. Children, young men and women too were not left far behind in joining the celebration. After offering the prayers at the mosque, Muslim brethren extended greetings of joy to their fellow brethren.