Eid al-Adha
Also called Bakra Eid, Eid ul-Azha, Qurbani Eid
The festival of sacrifice, and a lot of sharing
What it is
About 70 days after Eid al-Fitr, during the Hajj. It moves about 11 days earlier every year.
Eid al-Adha is the 'festival of sacrifice.' It remembers the story of Ibrahim (Abraham), who Muslims believe was ready to sacrifice his son because God asked him to, and God gave him a ram to sacrifice instead. It happens during the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, and many Muslims see it as the bigger of the two Eids.
How people celebrate
The day starts with Eid prayers at the mosque.
Families who can afford it sacrifice a goat, sheep, cow or camel, which is called qurbani.
The meat is split three ways, one part for the family, one for relatives and friends, and one for people in need.
In the weeks before, huge animal markets pop up in cities like Karachi and Dhaka.
People visit each other for days, and the cooking pretty much doesn't stop.
What people eat
- Kaleji
- Liver fried with onions and spices, usually the first thing cooked on Eid.
- Biryani
- Layered rice and meat, made in huge pots for guests.
- Kabuli pulao
- Afghanistan's rice with lamb, carrots and raisins.
- Seekh kebabs
- Spiced minced meat grilled on skewers.
Did you know?
In South Asia a lot of people call it Bakra Eid, from 'bakra,' the Urdu and Hindi word for goat.