Mangalore: Eid-ul-Azha – Deep Devotion and Celebration Mark the Occasion
Pics: Sphoorty Ullal, Arun Uppinangady
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Nov 27: Eid-ul-Azha (also known as Eid-ul-Adah) is being celebrated with an in-depth devotion, reverence and pomp, by the Muslim brethren across the district on Friday November 27. Eid-ul-Azha, which is known as ‘Haj Pernal’ in local parlance, is a festival of sacrifice. It is the commemoration of the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son, Ismail, to God. The Satan had tempted Ibrahim to disobey God and spare his son. As Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son, God intervened and instead, provided a goat as the sacrifice. This is why, even today, Muslims all over the world sacrifice an animal (usually a goat or a sheep), to relive the divine occasion. The meat is then shared with the family, friends (Muslims or non-Muslims), as well as the poor members of the community.

Eid-ul-Azha is the latter of the two Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims. Like Eid -ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha begins with a short prayer, followed by a sermon.

Eid-ul-Azha annually falls on the tenth day of the month of Dhul Hijja of the lunar Islamic calendar. The festivities last for two to three days or more. Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated at a time the pilgrims are performing the religious rituals which turn them into Hajis.

Men, women, and children dress in their finest clothing to perform Eid prayer in any mosque. Muslims who can afford to do so, sacrifice their best domestic animals (usually sheep), as a symbol of Ibrahim's (Abraham's) sacrifice.

The Haj Pernal was celebrated with joy across Dakshina Kannada district. Men and women dressed in new attire were seen thronging the nearby mosques to offer prayers. Children, young men and women too were not left far behind in joining the celebration. After offering the prayers at the mosques, Muslim brethren exchanged greetings of joy with their fellow brethren by embracing them.