Eid- ul-Juha, the festival of sacrifice, was celebrated with religious solemnity in the State Capital on Tuesday.
The day started with the ceremonial namaz in different mosques of the city. Eidgah near Bindal bridge on Chakrata Road was the site of a huge congregation where a mass namaz was held at 9 am with devotees urging for universal peace and harmony. Mass prayers were also organised in different mosques of the city like Dhammawal bazaar, Muslim Colony, Paltan Bazaar, Dharampur, ITBP and Chakrata Road.
The Chief Minister, Harish Rawat, was present in the Eidgah and congratulated the Muslim brethren on the auspicious occasion. He said that Eid is the festival of love, sacrifice and forgiveness. Rawat said that the day reminds us of Hazrat Ibrahim who did not hesitate to sacrifice his own son. He said that we should take the pledge to reduce the pain and sufferings of the needy on the day.
After the Eid Namaz, the devout Muslims sacrificed goats and sheep to mark the great sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim.
The festival is meant to commemorate the monumental test Prophet Ibrahim had gone through. He was commanded by Allah in his dream to sacrifice his son Ismail. Ibrahim informed the Allah's wish to Ismail who readily agreed to put down his life. Ibrahim took his dearest son to the hillock of Meena and was about to sacrifice his son.
A miracle happened and what finally died was a ram and Ismail was safe. It is said that the almighty was happy with his devotee successfully passing through the fiery ordeal which he designed to test the strength of devotion of Ibrahim.
The day is celebrated as Eid-ul-Fitar or Bakr-a-Eid to commemorate the sacrifice of Ibrahim.
For children it was an enjoyable day as they visited the homes of their friends and relatives and got gifs from elders.