Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Bakrid: Memory of Ultimate Sacrifice


Other Names - Id-Ul – Adha or Id- Ul- Zuha
Celebrated On - The tenth day of the month Dhul Hijja.

‘BAKRID’ is religious festival celebrated by muslims world wide as a commemoration of ‘Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael to Allah. It is called as Id- Ul- Zuha, which coincides with the Haj pilgrimage at Mecca. In India bakrid is a festival of rejoicing.

THE HERE ANE NOW
According to popular belief, prophet Ibrahim was put to tough test by Allah to prove his faith, he was asked to sacrifice his son Ishmael and without any un certainty prophet Ibrahim blindfolded himself and made the offering on the mount of Mina near Mecca. When prophet Ibrahim opened his eyes, he was astonished to find a goat lying upon the altar and his son standing in front of him: ever since, followers of Ishmael all over the world offer sacrifices on the festival day.

On this day devot Muslims of all ages offer special prayers at mosques in the morning. Whereas Id Ul Fither has much focus on feasting, revelry and dressing in one’s best, bakrid is comparatively modest. Muslims sacrifice animal - a goat or sheep -divide the meat into three parts and distribute it among poor, friends and relatives and whatever remains is for the family.

Bakrid also marks the culmination of the Haj- pilgrimage to ‘Ka’ba’ in Mecca where muslims from the world over assemble. The ‘Ka’ba’ was the most important place of worship even before the advent of Islam and the revelation of the holy ‘QURAN’ to prophet Muhammed , after which significance of the ‘Ka’ba’ has been growing . The day of Id Ul Zuha starts with the early morning ‘NAMAZ’ in a Mosque. Namaz is offered in the early hours of the day.
The whole atmosphere is filled with resonance of ‘ALLAHU AKBAR’. The meeting then prepares for the congregational prayer led by the ‘IMAM’. After the prayer they exchange greetings and, as an expression of affectionate brotherhood, hug each other. People visit friends and relatives wearing new clothes & jewellery. Children are given gifts & money. The Indian subcontinent sweets are exchanged.

Muslim women in Kerala pay visits to the neighboring homes and take part in singing and dancing in the evening special meetings are perfect examples of the spirit of tolerance and mutual friendship that exist between communities in the state.

BAKRID RECIPES
Special dishes are prepared on this occasion. Sweet dishes, to non vegetarian items like Biriyani, Ghee rice, Chicken curry, Chicken varattiyathu, Stufffed bread, Muttamala, Mutta suruka, Chattipathiri, Irachipathiri, Nei pathiri, Samosa, Unnakkai etc.

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