KATHMANDU: Muslims across the country are celebrating Bakra Eid (Idul Zoha), the second major festival of the Muslim community, today with prayers and religious rituals.
Bakr Eid is observed 70 days after Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan. On this occasion, Muslims traditionally take a ritual bath early in the morning and gather at nearby mosques and Idgahs to offer collective prayers, followed by the exchange of greetings.
Large numbers of devotees gathered at the Nepali Jame Masjid at Durbar Marg, the Kashmiri Mosque, and other mosques and Idgahs across the country to mark the festival.
Former chairman of the Muslim Commission Nirshosh Ali said the festival commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail in obedience to Allah, according to Islamic belief and the Hijri calendar tradition dating back 1,439 years.
Muslim religious leader Maulana Rahmat Ali said the teachings and traditions associated with the festival were further carried forward by Prophet Muhammad, who was born in Mecca in 571 AD. He added that Islamic teachings and Hadith literature continue to preserve the historical and religious significance of the festival.
He said that Mecca and Medina remain important pilgrimage sites for Muslims, and large gatherings continue to take place there during the festival period.
As part of the tradition, Muslims who are financially able perform the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. The government also facilitates Nepali pilgrims travelling for Hajj by coordinating travel arrangements.
The festival is marked by the ritual sacrifice of animals permitted under Islamic tradition. According to religious belief, Allah tested Prophet Ibrahim by asking him to sacrifice his beloved son Ismail. However, after Ibrahim demonstrated his obedience, Allah replaced Ismail with a ram for the sacrifice.
Muslims continue this tradition by sacrificing animals and distributing the meat in three parts: one for poor and needy families, one for relatives and friends, and one for their own household.
Bakr Eid celebrations are observed for three days, and Muslims traditionally perform sacrifices throughout the period. The government has declared a public holiday today on the occasion of the festival.
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