Delhi celebrates Eid-ul-Azha
17 Oct 2013 7:12 AM IST
Thousands of Muslims thronged various mosques in the city, including Jama Masjid and Fatehpuri Masjid, to offer prayers and greeted ‘Eid Mubarak’ by hugging each other.
After the prayers, they sacrificed animals to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his only son, Ishmael, as an act of obedience to Allah.
The faithfuls dressed in traditional fineries then visited homes of their friends and relatives and exchanged gifts. They also distributed the meat of the sacrificed animals among friends, neighbours, relatives and the poor.
Eid-ul-Azha, also known as Bakr-Id, is celebrated by Muslims across the world as the festival of sacrifice, approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan, which is celebrated as Eid-ul-Fitr.
The festival comes a day after the devout participating in Haj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, descend from Mount Arafat.
Meanwhile, Lt Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung celebrated Eid with the old, mentally and physically challenged and homeless people at a government-run destitute home in Lampur.
Jung visited Sewa Sadan Complex, run by Delhi government’s Department of Social Welfare, and spent a good part of the morning talking to them and listening to their experiences, a statement from Raj Bhawan said.
He wished the residents and others present at the Sewa Sadan complex on the occasion of Eid and exhorted the officials to extend all care and support to them.
President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh greeted the people on the occasion, saying the festival celebrates the treasured ideals of compassion, sharing and sacrifice.
After the prayers, they sacrificed animals to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his only son, Ishmael, as an act of obedience to Allah.
The faithfuls dressed in traditional fineries then visited homes of their friends and relatives and exchanged gifts. They also distributed the meat of the sacrificed animals among friends, neighbours, relatives and the poor.
Eid-ul-Azha, also known as Bakr-Id, is celebrated by Muslims across the world as the festival of sacrifice, approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan, which is celebrated as Eid-ul-Fitr.
The festival comes a day after the devout participating in Haj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, descend from Mount Arafat.
Meanwhile, Lt Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung celebrated Eid with the old, mentally and physically challenged and homeless people at a government-run destitute home in Lampur.
Jung visited Sewa Sadan Complex, run by Delhi government’s Department of Social Welfare, and spent a good part of the morning talking to them and listening to their experiences, a statement from Raj Bhawan said.
He wished the residents and others present at the Sewa Sadan complex on the occasion of Eid and exhorted the officials to extend all care and support to them.
President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh greeted the people on the occasion, saying the festival celebrates the treasured ideals of compassion, sharing and sacrifice.
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