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.
0 Comments