The history behind the Bakrid verses is rooted in a Quranic story that has also been passed on among other Abrahamic religions. God put the Prophet Ibrahim through a trial when he asked him to sacrifice his son Ismail as an offering to Allah. In response, Allah sent him a lamb that he could offer instead of Ismail, which became a symbol of obedience to God, giving rise to the festival of Eid al-Adha.
The story behind Bakrid is linked to a story in the Quran that is common between the three Abrahamic religions. God had asked the Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his dear son, Ismail, as an act of faith in God. Yet, God sent Ibrahim a ram that was supposed to be sacrificed instead of Ismail, which became an example of devotion to God’s will.
Bakrid is about the ritual of Qurbani. This ritual is also known as animal sacrifice. People who have money to do this will sacrifice animals like a goat or a sheep or a cow or a camel to honor Prophet Ibrahim. He was very devoted to God. The animal is then cut into three parts. One part is for the people in the family. Another part is for relatives and friends. The last part is for people who do not have food to eat. This is what Bakrid is really, about the ritual of Qurbani and helping people in need.
The day begins with an Eid prayer that takes place in open fields or big mosques. People wear clothes on this day. Muslims say hello to each other. They spend the day going to see their loved ones. Muslims also make food and give money to people who need it. They do all these things on Eid day, which’s a special day for Muslims.
People who study this subject say that the good things about the day are not about the special ceremonies but also about being kind and humble. This is when families get together to say their prayers and have a meal as a group. They are making their relationships with each other stronger. They are also thinking about their faith, their family, and what they need to do for their community. The day is a time for families and communities to come together and think about what’s important to them, like their faith and their family.
The day is not about its religious meaning. It is also a time when people come together to help each other. People share food, give to charity, and hand out food to those who need it. This is a way to support families who’re not as lucky as others. The day is really about showing kindness and caring for people in need, underprivileged families.
However, amidst the festivities this year, political tensions have also escalated. The government of West Bengal changed the Bakrid holiday schedule. They did this after people saw the moon. Now the public holiday is on May 28. The government also made rules for Bakrid. People need permission and a certificate from a vet to sacrifice animals. This made some people very angry. The opposition parties and religious groups are not happy with the rules for Bakrid.
Meanwhile, in Mumbai, tensions snowballed after clashes broke out in housing societies over keeping goats for sacrifice. In Delhi too, the government has increased monitoring of animal transportation and sacrifice activities.Eid- al- Adha 2024: History, Celebration and Significance
