Eid al-Adha (Bakrid): The Festival of Sacrifice

2 min read · All India

Eid al-Adha — known in India as Bakrid or Bakri Eid — is the second of the two Eids, and in the Islamic calendar the greater one. It falls on the tenth day of Dhul Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic year, and coincides with the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Like all Islamic festivals, it moves about eleven days earlier each year.

The meaning of the day

Eid al-Adha, “the festival of sacrifice”, remembers the faith of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), who was willing to sacrifice his son Ismail in obedience to God — and was given a ram to sacrifice instead. The festival is about devotion, gratitude and, above all, sharing.

How Bakrid is celebrated

The Eid prayer: families gather at mosques and Eidgahs in the morning for the special prayer, followed by embraces and “Eid Mubarak”.
Qurbani: families who can afford it offer a sacrifice; the meat is divided into three parts — for the family, for relatives and friends, and for the poor — so that everyone can share in the feast.
Feasts and visits: biryani, korma, kebabs and sheer khurma, with relatives and neighbours visiting through the day.
Three days: celebrations usually continue for three days.

What to wear for Eid al-Adha

New clothes: as on every Eid, new or best clothes are worn.
Colours: white for the morning prayer, then elegant pastels or deep jewel tones for the day.
For the season: in the summer months, chanderi, mulmul and cotton anarkalis, kurta sets and shararas with fine chikankari or gota details.

Explore our Eid edit.

Wear it for Eid al-Adha