Banning cow slaughter in Gujarat makes Bakri-Eid costly for poor

Bakri-Eid this year will not be the same as last year, mainly because of the new law banning cow slaughter. Vice-president of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, JV Momin, said that most Muslim families prefer goats for sacrifice during the festival. "But earlier poor people couldn't afford goats and that is why they bought cows or calves which are considerably cheaper," he said.

He agreed that Bakri-Eid this year is definitely going to be different as the poor people will have no choice but to buy expensive goats.

"The household budget of many low-income families will be put to great strain because of the new law. They will have to forego many necessary things just to buy a goat," Momin said.

Another member of the Muslim community said on the condition of anonymity that, in Islam, kurbaani (sacrifice) is a farz (duty) which every member of the community has to perform. "But because of the new law banning cow slaughter, this year many Muslims will not be able to perform the animal sacrifice that is central to the festival," he said.