Eid-ul-Azha being celebrated across India

New Delhi: The festival of ''Offering'' or ''Qurbani'',
Eid-al-Azha, is being celebrated across India on
Saturday with religious fervour and gaiety.
Muslims observe the festival on the tenth day of the
last month of Islamic calendar ‘Zul-hijja’.
According to Islamic tradition, the Prophet Abraham
was blessed with his son Ishmael at a very
advanced age and nurtured a deep love for the boy.
Eid al-Adha is celebrated by Muslims around the
world to commemorate the Prophet Abraham's
willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail, obeying God
who, in the end, allowed him to sacrifice a sheep
instead.
The President, the Vice President and the Prime
Minister have greeted the people on the occasion.
Prayers are being offered in mosques across the
country.
In Andhra Pradesh, elaborate arrangements have
been made in the twin cities of Hyderabad and
Secunderabad for Eid prayers.
Special arrangements have been made at
Secunderabad Parade Grounds and Mir Alam Idgah
where Eid prayers are offered as part of the
celebrations.
In Lucknow, Muslims, along with their children are
heading towards Eidgah of AishBagh, Teelewali
Masjid, Juma Mosque and other mosques to offer
Eid prayers.
Muslims in Kerala had offered prayers on Friday on
the occasion of Eid al-Azha.
Meanwhile, Eid-al-Azha is being celebrated across
India on Saturday.
The commemoration is one of the most important
holidays in the Muslim calendar as it symbolises
obedience and loyalty to God.
The festival also marks the culmination of the Hajj
pilgrimage, considered as one of the five pillars of
Islam.
The tradition of the Eid-al-Adha festival also enjoins
all those who can afford a sacrifice to do so, and to
distribute the meat of the slaughtered animals to
the needy, after keeping back what they need for
themselves.
ANI: