SRINAGAR, MAY 27 — Festive fervor swept across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday as the region observed Eid al-Adha with congregational prayers, family gatherings, and traditional charity. The early start contrasts with the national schedule, as Eid al-Adha, also known as Bakrid, is being celebrated across most of India on May 28, 2026, following the moon sighting.
In Jammu and Kashmir—including Srinagar—the festival is being observed on May 27, 2026, due to differing regional moon visibility. The decision followed separate local observations confirmed by regional religious authorities, which aligned the Union Territory’s schedule with several neighboring regions and West Asian nations.
“We will celebrate Id on May 27,” Kashmir Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam stated ahead of the festivities. He urged the public to approach the celebrations with a focus on community welfare, adding an appeal to people to celebrate the occasion with simplicity and responsibility.
The three-day festival carries profound religious weight as one of the holiest periods in the Islamic calendar. Known globally as the “Festival of Sacrifice,” Eid al-Adha honors the devotion and obedience of Prophet Ibrahim towards God, commemorating the scriptural narrative where he expressed complete willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail under divine command. According to Islamic tradition, a sacrificial animal was provided to take the youth’s place at the final moment.
To mark this historical act of submission, families across the valley participated in the symbolic ritual of animal sacrifice on Wednesday morning. Local residents divided the meat into three distinct portions, distributing shares to the underprivileged, relatives, and neighbors to ensure collective participation in the feast.
Government leaders extended formal greetings to the public to mark the beginning of the three-day holiday period. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed hope that the festival would further strengthen the bonds of brotherhood, communal harmony, and mutual respect among people, while calling on the public to remember the less fortunate during their home celebrations.
