NEW DELHI, MAY 28 — Millions of Muslims across India gathered at historic mosques and open-air grounds on Thursday to mark Eid ul-Adha, dedicating the day to prayers, traditional rituals, and acts of charity.
The celebrations, also known locally as Bakrid, commenced with early morning congregational prayers at major religious landmarks, including the historic Jama Masjid in New Delhi, the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad, and the Nakhoda Mosque in Kolkata. Clerics leading the congregations delivered sermons focusing on the values of sacrifice, mutual coexistence, and compassion toward the underprivileged.
Religious authorities across most Indian states had designated Thursday, May 28, for the festival following revised moon-sighting confirmations earlier in the month, while parts of Jammu and Kashmir observed the occasion a day prior based on local sighting traditions.
“The festival of Eid ul-Adha reminds us of the profound strength of faith and the universal duty to care for those in need,” Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, stated following the morning assembly. He noted that the occasion serves as an opportunity to reinforce social bonds across diverse communities.
Following the completion of the formal prayers, attendees exchanged traditional greetings and partook in the ritual sacrifice, or Qurbani, which commemorates the devotion of Prophet Ibrahim. Local administrations across urban centers had established specialized sanitation and security arrangements to facilitate the smooth conduct of the ritual while keeping public spaces clean.
In various neighborhoods, families distributed a significant portion of the sacrificial meat to relatives, neighbors, and economically marginalized households. Community leaders noted that festive markets remained busy throughout the afternoon as residents purchased traditional sweets, clothing, and gifts to mark the secondary day of festivities.
