For the last few weeks, the city's Muslim community has been preparing for Id-Ul-Zuha (Bakri-Eid), the festival of sacrifice, which is to be celebrated on November 7. Bakri-Eid is celebrated on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Dhuj Hija.
Talking to DNA about the significance of the festival, the Maulvi of Jama Masjid said the most important ritual of the festival is the sacrifice of an animal.
"We believe that Allah tested the faith of Hazrat Ibrahim and asked him to sacrifice the person dearest to him. Hazrat Ibrahim immediately agreed. Allah told him in a dream to sacrifice his son. Hazrat Ibrahim was ready to sacrifice his son but, having tested his faith, Allah ordered him to kill a goat instead of his son. Hence, we celebrate this festival as Allah's test of our faith and we dedicate the sacrifice of the animal to Allah," the Maulvi said.
He further said that on the day of Bakri-Eid, the ritual of animal sacrifice is performed in every household after the morning namaaz. The meat of the sacrificed animal is then distributed among the poor and also shared with relatives and family members at a grand feast. In the run up to the festival, a Bakri mela (goat fair) was held in the city recently but it did not attract many customers. The reason for this, of course, is the exorbitant price of goats. Despite this, the general enthusiasm for the festival in the minority community has not gone down as people are still buying goats with their savings.
Talking to DNA about the impact of the rise in price of goats, a resident of Sarkhej, Aftab Shethwala, said most people have had to adjust their household budgets to be able to buy a goat. "My budget for a goat had to be increased considerably. This year, I have spent double the amount I spent last year to buy a goat," Shethwala said.
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