Pappu Mallick
Gangtok, Nov 7: Muslims in Gangtok celebrated Eid-ul-Zuha
Monday with gaiety and the spirit of sacrifice. Around ten to twenty goats and
sheep were sacrificed in the city on the occasion.
The community offered prayers in the morning at various mosques in Muslim pockets across the city and adjoining east district and then got down to sacrificing goats and sheep.
The meat will then be used to prepare a variety of dishes.
"Muslim households generally prepare a variety of sumptuous dishes like sheer korma, payas and mutton biryani. Unlike Eid-ul-Fitr which is celebrated at the end of Ramzan, Bakr-Eid is not just sweet dishes”.
The community offered prayers in the morning at various mosques in Muslim pockets across the city and adjoining east district and then got down to sacrificing goats and sheep.
The meat will then be used to prepare a variety of dishes.
"Muslim households generally prepare a variety of sumptuous dishes like sheer korma, payas and mutton biryani. Unlike Eid-ul-Fitr which is celebrated at the end of Ramzan, Bakr-Eid is not just sweet dishes”.
Devotees pray at a mosque on the eve of the Eid ul-Adha
festival in Gangtok Anjuman Islamiya (Jamma Masjid). Muslims observe the day
with a sacrificial slaughter of sheep, goats, cows or camels to mark Prophet
Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail on God's command. (pic.
Pappu Mallick)
According to
tradition, after cutting a goat or a sheep, every Muslim divides the meat into
three parts. One part goes to the poor, the second to relatives and the third
remains with the family. This is done to show the spirit of remembering the
poor and also to include relatives in the celebration.
India has over 160 million Muslims, the third largest population of Muslims in the world after Indonesia and Pakistan.
India has over 160 million Muslims, the third largest population of Muslims in the world after Indonesia and Pakistan.
