No matter where in the world it’s celebrated, the festival of Eid-ul-Adha witnesses universal themes of sacrifice.
Each year, Muslims around the world get together with their family, friends to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha. The festival, which draws its inspiration from the story of Prophet Ibrahim's devotion and the sacrifice of his son for God, is a ritual of generosity, and deep spiritual meaning. Nonetheless, Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated in different ways from country to country, owing to varied cultural traditions, cuisine, and local customs.
Here’s how Eid-ul-Adha is observed across different cultures:
In Saudi Arabia, Eid-ul-Adha revolves around the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, where Muslims gather to perform one of the five pillars of Islam. In cities like Riyadh and Jeddah, communities get together for early morning prayers, and food is distributed to the poor to align with the true essence of Eid.
In Indonesia, Eid is called "Idul Adha", and is often kickstarted with Takbir (praise of God) at the mosques the night before. On Eid morning, men and women dress in traditional clothing in the lead-up to the festival.
In Nigeria, Eid-ul-Adha is known as “Eid-el-Kabir”, and the day begins with Eid prayers. The colorful fusion of Islamic and local cultural practices is the highlight of the festival.
In Turkey, Kurban Bayramı remains one of the most important holidays, and people pay visits to relatives and friends apart from donations to humanitarian organizations. As per the Turkish tradition of Bayram visits, people go door to door to exchange sweets and greetings.
In Pakistan, Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated widely with the Eid prayer being a major event. Later in the day, it turns into a festival of food, with traditional dishes like biryani, kebabs, prepared in abundance.
In Egypt, Eid-ul-Adha, known locally as Eid al-Kabir, sees strong social customs, with markets being lively, and children getting new clothes and gifts. Charity too remains an essential part of the celebration, with many making donations to the less fortunate.
No matter where in the world it’s celebrated, the festival of Eid-ul-Adha witnesses universal themes of sacrifice, community, and compassion, and unites over a billion people across the globe.
