Kolkata : Muslims across India and the world are celebrating Id-ul-Zuha, also known as Eid al-Adha or the ?Festival of Sacrifice? on Wednesday.
Sometimes also known as ?Bakri-Eid?, the sacrifice of an animal like sheep, camel, or goat marks the festival.
The important religious holiday referred to as the ?Greater Eid? commemorates the trials and triumphs of the Prophet Abraham who was asked to sacrifice his only son by God.
According to the Qur’an, God later intervened to provide him with a ram to sacrifice instead.
The meat from the sacrificed animal is used in making a variety of delicacies.
A third of it is eaten by immediate family and relatives, another part is given away to friends and the last third is donated to the poor.
With most of the meat being given away, the festival is seen as a symbol of giving up things of benefit in order to follow Allah?s commands.
This year however celebrations are expected to be a bit dialled down due to the spiralling prices of essential commodities and even goats.
With the situation somewhat normal after months of unrest, Eid is being celebrated across the Kashmir valley with much fervour.