There are various festivals in the Muslim calendar. But Bakriid or Id-ul-Zuha is one of the most celebrated festivals among Muslims all over the world. It is a day of sacrifice for the Muslims. According to legends. It all started with a dream in which Allah directed the patriarch Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail. It was Ibrahim's faith in Allah and his son's faith in his father that were on test. Before performing the sacrifice Ismail tied a cloth around his father's eyes. But when Ibrahim opened his eyes he found his son safe and sound. In his place lay a dead dumba or ram. It is in honour of this test of faith that Muslims around the world sacrifice an animal on the occasion of Id-ul-azha to show their allegiance, faith and sincerity towards Allah. In India the Muslims mainly sacrifice the goat, which is why the occasion is spoken of in Urdu as Bakhr or Bakri-Id. The festival is to celebrate the strong faith of those devoted to Islam.

The festival coincides with the anniversary of the day when 'Quran' was declared complete. It is from when many Muslims undertake Haj to Mecca and people offer prayers in mosques. On the day of Id, the pilgrims reach the grounds of Mina where they sacrifice an animal each. It was here that Ibrahim is believed to have sacrificed his son. The pilgrims then shave their heads. The purpose is to be one with the millions of devotees who converge to Mecca each year for the Haj. The sacrificial meat is distributed after the ceremony among friends and family members. Special delicacies and sweets are prepared on the occasion. The celebration of Bakri Id starts from the tenth to the twelfth day in the Islamic month of Dhu'l Hijja. On the Id day people wear new clothes, offer prayers, and visit each other and exchange greetings. There are special prayers, which take places on the three days of Id. Ceremonial prayers, and feasts are part of this festival.

Ugadi Pachadi has an important symbolic meaning that life brings different experiences ranging from sweet to bitter. Therefore each individual should learn to take the different experiences in one's stride and move ahead.

Instead of the Ugadi Pachadi, in some places people serve jaggery mixed with neem leaves. The bitter taste of neem leaves and the sweet of jaggery symbolize joy and sorrow in life. This is more popular with Kannadigas.

Significance of Bakri Id

Bakri Id or Id-ul-Zuhat is one of the most important festivals of the Muslims. It is called Id-ul-Adha in Arabic and Bakr-Id in the Indian subcontinent, because of the tradition of sacrificing a goat, or bakr in Urdu. Joyous festivities and somber rituals mark this event. It is a three-day festival but the main celebrations are on the first day. According to the rules laid down for Id by Prophet Muhammad, every Muslim is expected to take a bath, wear new clothes, apply itr or perfume, walk to the mosque before eating anything, and recite theTakbir aloud. After the prayers, which are held in an open space in deference to the directive of the Quran, he is tore turn home. There are certain rituals to be followed and accordingly celebrations on the first day include Do Rakat Namaz, which can be performed any time from sunrise to just after noon. The prayers during this festival are considered more rewarding than other daily or weekly offerings. Every Muslim owning property worth 400 grams of gold or more is expected to sacrifice a goat, sheep or any other four-legged animal during one of the three days of the festival. This sacrifice symbolizes devotion to Allah and his desires. The sacrificed meat is then distributed and partaken of after the Id prayers mainly among friends, relatives and needy person. Prophet Muhammad had decreed that the entire community celebrate Id for three days to facilitate participation.

Prayer meetings and Id milans are part of the festivities. People visit friends and relatives. Bakri Id is symbolized as a day of sacrifice for Muslims. It all started with a dream in which Allah directed the patriarch Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail. Ibrahim's allegiance to the word of Allah and his son's faith in his father were on test. The dream recurred thrice before Ibrahim told Ismail about it. The two went to a mountain where Ismail tied a cloth round his father's eyes before offering himself to be sacrificed. But when Ibrahim opened his eyes, he found his son safe and sound. In his place lay a dead dumba or ram. It is in honor of this test of faith that Muslims around the world sacrifice an animal on the occasion of Id-ul-azha to show their faith, allegiance and sincerity towards Allah. In India, the animal used most often for sacrifice is the goat, which is why the occasion is spoken of in Urdu as Bakhr or Bakri-Id. For the millions at Haj in Saudi Arabia, it is a big day. On the day of Id, the pilgrims reach the grounds of Mina where they sacrifice an animal each. It was here that Ibrahim is believed to have sacrificed his son. The pilgrims then shave their heads. The purpose is to be one with the millions of devotees who converge to Mecca each year for the Haj.

When Bakri Id is Celebrated

Eid Al Adha or Eid ul Zuha or Bakri Id is one of the most important festivals in the Muslim calendar. Celebrated from the 10th to the 12th day in the month of Dhul Hijjah, this festival is significant with the sacrifice of the goat or bakr in Urdu. The word Id derived from the Arabic Eid means 'festival' and 'zuha' comes from uzhaiyya, which translates to 'sacrifice'. Eid Al Adha commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son on God's command. According to Islamic belief, to test Ibrahim, Allah commanded him to sacrifice his son Ismail. He agreed to do it but found his paternal feelings hard to suppress. So he blindfolded himself before putting Ismail on the altar at the mount of Mina near Mecca. When he removed his blind-fold after performing the act, he saw his son standing in front of him, alive. On the altar lay a slaughtered lamb. It is in honor of this test of faith that Muslims around the world sacrifice an animal on the occasion to show their faith, allegiance and sincerity to Allah. In India, the animal used mostly for sacrifice is the goat, which is why the occasion is spoken of in Urdu as Bakhr or Bakri-Id. The festival also coincides with the anniversary of the day when The Holy Quran was declared complete. It is also the time when many Muslims undertake Haj to Mecca.

For the millions at Haj in Saudi Arabia, it is an auspicious day. Being a lunar date, Eid depends on the sighting of the moon. According to the customs the pilgrims at Haj collect seventy pebbles that are used to drive away the Shaitan or Satan who tried to dissuade Prophet Ibrahim thrice from making the supreme sacrifice. This gesture marks the symbolic condemnation of evil power that tries to dissuade man from reaching God. On the day of Eid, the pilgrims reach the grounds of Mina where they sacrifice an animal each. The pilgrims then shave their heads. The purpose is to be one with the millions of devotees who converge to Mecca each year for the Haj. In India, the day begins with a ghusl or bath, after which namaaz is offered. It is mandatory to sacrifice either individually or collectively if one cannot afford the full price of the animal. To a Muslim it is the word of Allah that has to be followed. The sacrificial meat is then distributed amongst family, friends and the needy. Prayer meetings and Eid Milans are part of the festivities. People visit friends and relatives wearing new clothes and jewellery. Children are given idi or gifts and money. In the Indian subcontinent sweets are exchanged. Vermicelli or seviyan, a traditional sweet, is prepared specially for this festival.