Satisfied with Abraham's devotion, God replaced Ishmael with a sheep at the last second, and the sheep was slaughtered instead. While pilgrims in Makkah re-enact this scene by slaughtering sheep of their own, Muslims who can afford it in the rest of the world also participate in this rite by slaughtering sheep, camels and cows. One third of the meat is distributed to the poor, one third to neighbors and relatives while one third is kept by the person who offered the sacrifice for use within his or her own family
India is home to approximately 150 million Muslims who celebrate the Eid in the same way as their non-Indian brothers and sisters in faith. It is a very happy time which is marked by special prayers, visits to family and friends, gifts to children and, of course by food. For many families, it may be one of the few times during the year that they have the opportunity to enjoy meat, and only the best dishes are served. The following are some recipes for Indian dishes which are popular on Eid al-Adha:
Eid al-Adha annually falls on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja of the lunar Islamic calendar. The festivities last for three days or more depending on the country. Eid al-Adha occurs the day after the pilgrims conducting Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide, descend from Mount Arafat. It happens to be approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan. |
