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ShareBangalore: Giggles, shouts and screams of kids running about echoed in Muslim households of the city as the community observed Bakrid (Eid-al-Azha) with piety on Saturday.
The celebrations went on peacefully without any untoward incidents.
Prayers held from 7 am to 10.30 amat 100 idgahs and 400 mosques of the city kickstarted the celebrations for the day. The festivities were as much about sacrifice as about sharing.
While the rambunctious kids frolicked about in every household, the elders joined in around a huge daegchi, the pot in which biryaani is cooked, taking turns to stir its contents. Kheer, rich with roasted almonds and dry fruits, was offered to neighbours and friends who trooped in to convey their wishes.
"Bakrid is a great festival. It is a festival of sharing. This year is special for our family as my brothers have come down from Saudi for the festival," said Ayesha Firdose, a junior doctor at St Martha's Hospital.
Sabaheth Farhana, a home-maker in Koramangala, said, "Bakrid is the time when every Muslim, at least the ones who can afford, will sacrifice a goat or camel or cow."
The sacrifice is symbolic of the will of the people to do anything for their God. Syed said, "The practice of sacrifice came into being when Allah asked Prophet Ibrahim to offer the thing he loved the most. The Prophet was about to sacrifice his son Ismail when Allah told him to sacrifice a ram."
A prayer is said before the sacrifice. Instead of slaughtering the animal in one fell swoop its throat is slit. Syed said, "Such a practice ensures that the animal doesn't die of shock. When the throat is slit, the animal pumps out all the blood. That way there is no blood left in the meat."
After sacrifice, every household distributed meat in four parts -- one for the family, one for relatives and two parts for the poor and needy. Camels were sacrificed at slaughterhouses.
Bakrid is also the day when the Haj pilgrimage comes to an end. The Bakrid celebrations do not end today; it goes on for three days. After the first day, the Eid is called Baasi Eid.
Blood rites
The ritual
The bakri (goat) is bought on chaand raat and the sheep is kept at home for 10 days. It is important to feed the bakri. Also it has to pass a complete cycle of motion.
This practice ensures that the bakri's system is cleansed. Families feed it geza (green grass).
Families that do not have sufficient space in their homes purchase the bakri the previous night.
Twice as good
Eid-ul-azha is a special prayer that is offered twice - on Ramzan and on Id-ul-Zula. Only after the prayer is offered is the qurbani (sacrifice) made.
Prayer process
Fajr is the early morning or the first prayer
Dhurhr is the prayer done in the afternoon
Asar namaaz is the early evening or afternoon prayer
Maghrib is the prayer done at sunset
Isha'a is the prayer done at night.
