India is the land of many diverse cultures. It is a secular country wherein the citizens of India are allowed to follow the religion of their choice. Apart from the Hindus, India is largely inhabited by Muslims. The two major Muslim festivals celebrated in India (as in the rest of the world) are Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha.
These occasions are celebrated with great enthusiasm by Muslims of all age groups and social statuses. One can see the entire Muslim community attired in new clothes, greeting family friends, and strangers and together visiting mosques to offer Namaaz.
Eid-ul-Fitr is also called Ramzan (Ramadan) Eid. This festival marks the end of the fasting month of Ramzan. This is the ninth month of the Muslim year and it is this month during which the Quran was revealed.
The end of the fast, after a month, is marked by the new moon ‘Eid ka Chaand’. This day is celebrated with great festivity. People visit family and friends and offer ‘Sewwayian’ and ‘Kheer’ to their guests. They offer prayers (Namaaz) five times, facing the Kaaba in Mecca.
Eid-Ul-Azha is also known as Bakri Eid. It is celebrated to communicate the great sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim (Peace be Upon Him). Hazrat Ibrahim (Peace be Upon Him) has been put through a very difficult test by God. God asked him to sacrifice whatever was dearest to his heart and his most precious possession.
Hazrat Ibrahim (Peace be Upon Him) decided to sacrifice his son, but as he placed the tip of the sword at his son’s throat, a divine message was revealed to him. God said he had only wished to test his faith, and Hazrat Ibrahim (Peace be Upon Him) has proven his true devotion. He was asked to sacrifice a ram in the name of Allah and so he did.
This is celebrated on the tenth day of Zilhijja, which is when the Haj celebrations draw to an end with the sacrifice of goats or camels. In India, all Muslims sacrifice goats or sheep and cook their meat. This is distributed among family, friends, and also to the poor.
Everyone sits together to enjoy the feast. Prayers are offered in mosques all over the world in praise of Allah and his devout believer Hazrat Ibrahim (Peace be Upon Him). The entire Indian society rejoices with their Muslim friends in the celebrations of Eid.
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