How Is Eid al Adha Celebrated in India
How is Eid al Adha celebrated in India? Eid al Adha is also known as the festival of sacrifice, because it involves an animal sacrifice. In India and Pakistan, Eid al Adha is known as Bakrid. The date, as well as the way Eid al Adha is celebrated changes across countries. Today on The Indian Rose we will discover what is Bakrid festival, or how is Eid al Adha celebrated in India, by examining the following topics:
What Is Bakrid Festival in India
How Is Eid al Adha Celebrated in India
Eid al Adha Prayer Time in India
Is Bakra Eid a National Holiday in India
Let’s learn all about how is Eid al Adha celebrated in India…
Eid al Adha in Hindi
Let’s first clarify the term. Eid al Adha has different names in different countries.
Eid al Adha in Hindi is written as ईद-उल-अजहा. However, Eid al Adha is called Bakrid (बकरीद) in India. The term comes from the word “bakri”, which means goat in Urdu, and the word “id”, which means festival in Arabic.
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What Is Bakrid Festival in India
Bakrid festival in India is a Muslim religious festival that marks what in the Muslim world is called Eid al Adha. It is celebrated to remember the day in which the Almighty tested the faith of Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son, which was then substituted by the Almighty with a ram.
Bakrid festival in India is celebrated to show the same devotion and sense of sacrifice to the Almighty. Thus, Bakrid festival in India consists of an animal sacrifice and collective prayers.
Bakrid festival in India typically lasts 3 days.
Bakrid festival in India celebrated with grandeur in the following cities:
New Delhi: prayers at Jama Masjid
Hyderabad: lots of people go there for Eid al Adha, especially in Madannapet
Kolkata: big Muslim population and party atmosphere in the old city
Lucknow: if you want to see what is Bakrid festival in India, go to Lucknow, you will be rewarded with a Mughal Empire atmosphere and excellent traditional restaurants.
Ahmedabad: large prayer gathering
Srinagar: a special place where people from all over the country go to celebrate Bakrid festival
Now that you know what is Bakrid festival, let’s see how is Eid al Adha celebrated in India.
See also how is Eid ul Fitr celebrated in India, and the best places to visit during Eid ul Fitr.
How is Eid al Adha Celebrated in India
Eid al Adha is celebrated by all Muslims. If you want to know how is Eid al Adha celebrated in India, keep in mind that a central part of the traditional celebration of Eid al Adha by Muslims worldwide consists of an animal sacrifice.
More broadly, Eid al Adha is celebrated in India by praying, sacrificing an animal, cooking and sharing special food, wearing new clothes, wishing friends and family members, and distributing gifts.
Here is a list of the elements of Bakrid celebrations in India:
- Ghusl: is the ritual washing before the prayer.
- Prayers: Muslims in India celebrate Eid al Adha by attending a collective open-air prayer. In fact, prayer on Eid al Adha must be offered in group. Eid al Adha prayers in India consists of 2 rakats followed by a sermon. People also chant Takbir. In big Indian cities, as well as in regions where the Muslim population is big, some streets might remain closed to traffic and squares used for the religious gathering.
- Animal sacrifice: Muslims who can afford it sacrifice an animal to imitate the sacrifice by Abraham. The main feature of how Eid al Adha is celebrated in India vs. other countries lies in the animal sacrifice. In India, Muslims tend to sacrifice goats, sometimes sheep, hardly ever cows, which are sacred to Indian Hindus. The animal is then divided into 3 parts. One third is kept by the family, one third is gifted to friends and other family members, another third is given to poor people. Gifting parts of the sacrificed animal to people who can’t afford food is a key part of how Eid al Adha is celebrated in India.
- Clothes: both men and women wear new clothes to attend the ceremony. So, the days before Bakrid are characterised by shopping. You can learn more about it in the section on what to wear for Eid al Adha in India below.
- Wishes: both during the ceremony and afterwards, wishes of prosperity and peace are exchanged among Muslims. “Eid Mubarak” greetings are exchanged. Below you’ll find some wishes ideas.
- Visits and gifts: Muslims in India celebrate Eid al Adha by visiting family members, neighbours and friends and exchanging small gifts.
- Eid al Adha India food: Muslims eat special food on Bakrid, mainly mutton dishes. Some popular dishes are mutton Biryani, Nalli Nihari, mutton Korma. Sheer Khurma, Kheer and Meethi Sewai are popular desserts. As you can see, how is Eid al Adha celebrated in India is not only about praying, it is about feasting as well.
When is Eid al Adha in India
Eid al Adha falls on the 10th or 11th day of the month of Dhul Hijjah, the last month of the Muslim lunar calendar. It also coincides with the time people who went to Mecca for Hajj come back, so it is a truly intense celebration. Eid al Adha falls on a different date of the Gregorian calendar every year, the exact date of Bakrid in India is anticipated by approximately 11 days of the Gregorian calendar every year.
Exact Date of Bakrid in India
There has been some confusion over when is Eid al Adha 2018 in India. Finally, a decision has been taken and it has been confirmed that the exact date of Bakrid in India will be Wednesday the 22nd of August. While in some parts of the country the moon was spotted on Sunday the 12th, in Delhi it was not. That’s what created the confusion over the exact date of Bakrid in India.
Eid al Adha Prayer Time in India
Eid al Adha prayers can start after the sun has completely risen on the exact day of Bakrid, after the usual morning prayers time. Prayers for Bakrid end before the sun goes down. Eid al Adha prayers are held in congregation in open air spaces. Both men and women participate.
Is Bakra Eid a National Holiday in India?
Eid al Adha or Bakra Eid is a religious gazetted holiday in all Indian States. Government and public offices stay closed, while privates can decide whether to open their business or not. However, it is not considered a national holiday. The only national holidays in India are not religious in nature; they are Republic Day on 26th of January, Independence Day on 15th of August, and Gandhi’s birthday on the 2nd of October.
Bakrid India Wishes
Here are some Bakrid wishes you can use for family and friends in India. Remember, exchanging wishes is an important side of how is Eid al Adha celebrated in India.
May Allah bless you and your family with peace on this Bakrid
May this special occasion bring joy into your life
My deepest prayers for you on this special day. Happy Bakrid!
May Allah forgive our faults and reward our good deeds, may all people be happy and in peace.
I wish you can attain all your dreams this year. Eid Mubarak!
May all obstacles vanish from your life, Happy Bakrid!
I keep you in my special prayers today, Eid Mubarak!
May you always be guided by the Almighty on your life path!
May all your prayers come true today!
Bakrid Status in English
Here are Bakrid status you can use for Whatsapp and Facebook.
On Eid al Adha, the celebration of sacrifice, we show Allah our love and devotion, and we are filled with joy in our own lives.
Eid Mubarak to all Muslims in the world. May you all find happiness!
On this special day I pray for the hopeless, for the forgotten, may the Almighty look upon you on Bakrid!
Let’s all share what we have with the unprivileged on Eid al Adha, this is the true meaning of the festival of sacrifice.
Bakrid: the day we pray, sacrifice, feed the poor, and enjoy celebrations with our families and delicious food. The holiest of the holidays!
Indian Eid clothes – Bakrid Outfits India
Eid al Adha is not only about sacrifice, but also about wearing new clothes. As we saw earlier, this is an integral part of how Eid al Adha is celebrated in India. Here is a list of what to wear for Bakrid in India:
Anarkali Suit: Mughal Empire attire, you can’t go wrong with an Anarkali for Eid al Adha celebrations in India. You can wear a truly special anarkali for Bakrid.
Abaya style dress: for a more conservative attire. (if you visit the Gulf, you might be interested in can I wear saree in Dubai and other Gulf States?)
Churidar suit: if you don’t want to give up comfort. Pick a special one with golden embroideries and lace patterns. The shirt should be on the long side, as it is more elegant
Pakistani suit with palazzo pants: very fashionable this year.
Kurta Pajama: the best choice for men, can be classical or Indo-Western. Pick one with royal blue and gold for a special Bakrid celebration.
Salwar Kameez and Kurta Pajama in vibrant colors for the kids of the family (see is salwar suit a formal wear?).
And don’t forget golden accessories!
How is Eid al Adha celebrated in India is interesting both from a religious and feasting perspective. Eid Mubarak to all of you readers of The Indian Rose!