Eid-ul-Adha today; Hazratbal to host biggest Eid congregation

Srinagar, June 16: Eid-ul-Adha will be celebrated across Jammu and Kashmir with religious fervour on Monday.

Every year Muslims across the world, including J&K, celebrate Eid-ul-Adha on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, which is the last month of the Islamic calendar.

The biggest Eid congregation in Kashmir will be held at Hazratbal shrine, where thousands of people are expected to join Eid prayers at 10 am and listen to sermons on the teachings of Islam.

Every year, thousands of worshippers across Kashmir reach the Hazaratbal shrine on the picturesque banks of Dal Lake to participate in the biggest Eid congregation.

The markets around the famous religious site have been abuzz for the past few days given the Eid.

“We have decided to participate in the biggest congregation prayers at Hazratbal, which is close to our vicinity. Every year, we ensure to participate along with families to mark this holy day. This is a festival that teaches the obedience of Allah and the teaching that we learned from Prophet Ibrahim (AS). We will pray for the peace and prosperity of Kashmir and hope that the coming year will be full of prosperity,” said Javaid Ahmad of Zukura.

Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) willingness to sacrifice his son Ismael (AS) on the command of Allah.

Later, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) slaughtered an animal after he passed the test of Allah.

People slaughter sacrificial animals on this festival to follow the practice of Prophet Ibrahim (AS).

Every year, soon after the Eid prayers, people across Kashmir rush to their homes to participate in animal sacrifice.

This year, people bought every kind of animal, including camels, to be sacrificed on the day of Eid.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha last week reviewed the preparations for the Eid-ul-Adha festival.

Chairing a high-level meeting to review the preparedness of district administrations and various departments ahead of the Eid-ul-Adha festival, the LG directed the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to personally visit significant religious places and implement all necessary measures to ensure the smooth and peaceful conduct of the auspicious occasion.

Officials said that all the departments, including the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Police, Public Health Engineering (PHE), Power Development Department (PDD), Health Department, and others had made special arrangements to ensure that the festival would be celebrated smoothly.

The chairperson of the J&K Waqf Board, Darakhshan Andrabi reviewed Eid-related preparations on Saturday.

In an Eid Message, she said, “It's a day of gratefulness to Allah for all His blessings on us. Eid-ul-Adha teaches us the significance of sacrifice, love, and compassion. Let’s spread our happiness around and also help others to celebrate Eid with piousness and fervour.”

Meanwhile, major congregational Eid prayers would be held across all Masjids and shrines in Srinagar including Masjid Jamiat-e-Ahle Hadith Gaw Kadal; Asar-e-Sharif Jenab Sahib Soura; Asar-e-Sharif Shehri Kalashpora; Ziarat-e-Makhdoom Sahab, Khanqah-e-Maula, and other Masjids and shrines.

In south Kashmir, congregational Eid prayers would be held at Jamia Masjid Hanfia, Jamia Masjid Ahli Hadith, Bait-ul-Muqaram, and Rehat-Ded Masjid in Anantnag.

In Kulgam, the biggest gathering is expected at Jamia Masjid Kulgam.

Large congregational prayer gatherings will be held at Khankah Tral, Jamia Masjid Shopian, and Jamia Masjid Pulwama.