Eid Festival

Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Zuha and Eid-i-Milad are the three festive occasions widely celebrated by Muslims in India.

Eid is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the country and one can see Muslims of all age groups and from all strata of society attired in new clothes, visiting mosques to offer namaaz.

India is a country of rich culture and heritage. Besides Hinduism there are a large number of non'-Hindu festivals.

The Eid-ul-Azha commemorates the ordeal of Hazrat Ibrahim. He was put to a terrible test by God and was asked to sacrifice whatever was dearest to him. He decided to sacrifice the life of his son.

As he was on the point of applying the sword to his son's throat, it was revealed to him that this was meant only to test his faith and it was enough if instead he sacrifices only a ram in the name of Allah.
This is celebrated on the Rioth day of Zilhijja, when the Haj celebrations at Mecca are rounded off by the sacrifice of goats or camels. In India, too, goats and sheep are sacrificed all over the country and prayers are offered. Coming with the new moon, this festival marks the end of Ramzan, the ninth month of the Muslim year. It was during this month that the holy Koran was revealed.

Muslims keep a fast every day during this month and on the completion of the period, which is decided by the appearance of the new moon, Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated with great eclat. Prayers are offered in mosques and Idgahs and elaborate festivities are held.

The Prophet was born on the twelfth day of Rabi-ul-Awwal, the third month of the Muslim year. His death anniversary- also falls on the same day, the word `barah' standing for the twelve days of the Prophet's sickness.

During these days, sermons are delivered in mosques by learned men, focusing on the life and noble deeds of the Prophet.

In some parts of the country, a ceremony known as sandal rite is performed over the symbolic footprints of the Prophet engraved in stone.

A representation of `buraq', a horse on which the Prophet is believed to have ascended to heaven, is kept near the footprints and anointed with sandal paste or scented powder and the house and casket containing these are elaborately decorated.

Elegies or `marsiyas' are sung in memory of the last days of the Prophet. The 12th day or the Urs proper is observed quietly, in prayers and alms giving.