BakriEid, popularly known as Id-ul-Zuha, is an important religious festival of Muslims observed once in a year to commemorate Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) who willingly agreed to immolate his son Ishmael near Mecca, symbolically as an act of respect and obedience to gratify God ahead of God's intervention to provide him with a goat or Bakr (Urdu) to immolate as a substitute. Bakrid is observed in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah (the twelfth and last month of the Islamic calendar) by offering special prayers and exchanging gifts. Muslims in India will celebrate the upcoming BakriEid 2011 on the month of November with great fervor based on the Islamic calendar or lunar calendar.
Celebration of BakriEid has immense religious significance and is observed worldwide with great enthusiasm. The festivity, extensively known as the 'feast of sacrifice' or 'Greater Eid' celebrates Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his own son to please God and also completion of Haj by the pilgrims asking God for forgiveness.
Merry making of BakriEid kicks off with a Wajib (a religious duty) and is followed by a religious Khutbah (a religious public sermon). Muslims on this special day dress themselves in their finest clothes and visit Eidgah or Mosque to offer Eid prayer for the well-being of their dear ones and peace.
Based on the religious beliefs, exchanging and distributing the meat of sacrificed animal is considered as blessed. And so devotees share the meat among friends, neighbours, relatives and to needy persons after offering the prayers on Bakrid. However, the family who offers sacrifice retains a small portion of the share as sacred.
Greeting one another with warm Bakrid wishes and preparation of special traditional dishes is considered as a part of this grand celebration. However, in the contemporary times, the trend of sending Bakrid SMS or messages is catching up in a fast pace because of its attractive features. Apart from saying 'Happy Bakrid', one can also capture the significance of the festival with lovely Barkid SMS.
The celebration of Bakrid continues for three consecutive days from the 10th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah.
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