Tomorrow to celebrate the holy Eid-ul-Adha, the festival of sacrifice

The holy Eid-ul-Adha or the festival of sacrifice will be celebrated tomorrow in various countries including Bangladesh. It is the second largest religious festival of Muslims.

Muslims will sacrifice animals for purification, to please Allah. Surrendering oneself to God through this is the main message of Eid-ul-Adha.

During this festival of sacrifice, pilgrims enjoy visiting animal markets and buying sacrificial animals. Those who could afford it bought sacrificial animals. To share the joy of Eid, many have crossed hundred miles from the city to the roots of the village.

The Eid ceremony begins with the congregation at the Eidgah. In the meantime, preparations have been completed in all Eidgahs of the country including the capital. Early in the morning, devout Muslims will offer prayers at the Eidgah, then perform animal sacrifices.

The president and prime minister, opposition leaders, political parties including BNP have urged to spread the joy of Eid among everyone. In a separate message, the President Sahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina congratulated the countrymen on Eid.

Encouraged by the education of sacrifice, they called to forget mutual differences and build the country. Opposition leader GM Quader, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other top politicians also wished Eid to the countrymen.

According to the tradition of sacrifice, there is an opportunity to sacrifice animals on the next two days apart from Eid. As such, sacrifices can be made on Wednesday until Asr time. Sacrifice is obligatory for those who are able ti do. One-third of the meat of the sacrificial animal must be given to the poor. One share should be given to the relatives.

The first congregation of Eid will be held at 7:30 in the morning at the National Eidgah Maidan in Dhaka. Apart from this, dignitaries including cabinet members, Supreme Court Justices, Members of Parliament, senior political leaders, high-ranking military and civilian officials will offer Eid prayers here. After the prayer, President Sahabuddin and his wife Dr. Rebeka Sultana will exchange Eid greetings with people from all walks of life at Bangabhaban from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM.

The worshipers will offer Eid prayers in 184 Eidgahs and around 1500 mosques in the capital, including the National Eidgah Maidan, Baitul Mukarram Mosque. The historical Sholakia Eidgah of Kishoreganj is ready for the country's largest Eid congregation. The 197th Eid congregation will be held in this Eidgah. On the other hand, the country's second largest Eid congregation will be held at Gor-E-Shahid Eidgah Maidan in Dinajpur.

Muslims believe that Qurbani has gained the status of worship in view of the historical events of the father of the Muslim nation, Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) and his son Hazrat Ismail (a.s.). Allah asked Ibrahim (a.s.) to sacrifice his own son as a test, so he prepared to sacrifice his beloved child without any doubt or question. But by the order of Allah, Dumba was sacrificed. Since then, the custom of animal sacrifice was introduced.