One of the two major festivals of the Muslim community, Eid-ul-Adha, is arriving soon, and the nation is preparing to celebrate. Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha are the two primary religious holidays observed globally by the community. While the first is observed at the end of the holy month of Ramadan, the second arrives two months later with the completion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Here is all you need to know about Eid-ul-Adha 2026.
When is Eid-ul-Adha 2026?
Bakrid or Eid-ul-Adha will be celebrated across most parts of India on May 28, 2026, after the Dhul-Hijjah crescent moon was not sighted earlier this week. The update led several institutions, courts, and state governments to revise their holiday schedules, shifting the public holiday from May 27 to May 28. However, Jammu and Kashmir will continue to observe the festival on May 27, based on local moon sighting traditions.
History of Bakrid
Bakrid traces its history to about 4,000 years ago when Prophet Abraham saw God in a dream, commanding him to sacrifice what he loved the most. He is said to have had an only son, Ismail, and after much thought, he decided to sacrifice Ismail. The next morning, he told his son that they were going to offer a sacrifice to God on Mount Morea. They gathered fuel wood and a fire pot and embarked on a long trek. There, the father and son set up an altar, and when Ismail asked his father where the animal sacrifice was, Abraham replied, "God will provide it." He then bound his son, put him on the stone altar, and was about to sacrifice him with a knife. However, as he was about to do so, an angel is said to have appeared, telling him to desist, for God was convinced that he loved him more than his son. Suddenly, a ram emerged, caught by its horns in a bush. Abraham unbound his son and sacrificed the ram. This is celebrated as Bakrid, Id-uz-Zuha, or Id-al-Adah, on which the Hajj pilgrimage also culminates at the Kabah. In India, the largest number of "qurbanis" or sacrifices took place at Noor Manzil in Old Delhi. The butcher Qayam divided goat and sheep parts, keeping the best portions for the household of Nawab F.Z. Sherwani.
Significance of Bakrid
Bakrid is also known as the Festival of Sacrifice and is one of the most important and widely celebrated festivals in the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the unwavering devotion and obedience of Prophet Ibrahim to God, who was willing to sacrifice his own son to prove his love for the Almighty. To honor Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his dearest, Muslims across the world participate in Qurbani. They sacrifice a permissible animal such as a goat, sheep, or camel on the day. The meat of the sacrificed animal is divided into three equal portions. One is kept for the immediate family, the second is given to relatives and friends, and the third is strictly distributed to the poor and needy. This underscores the Islamic values of selflessness, compassion, and taking care of the underprivileged.
Rules for Bakrid
Eid-ul-Adha rules are divided into two categories: Islamic guidelines for the rituals and legal regulations enforced by authorities.
Legal Regulations
In India, legal regulations include a ban on the slaughter of cows, calves, and camels. Animal slaughter is only permitted in pre-designated locations, authorized slaughterhouses, or licensed private areas. Sacrificing animals on public streets, roads, or in public is illegal. Moreover, the blood and waste from the sacrifice have to be disposed of properly and cannot be drained into public sewers.
Religious Rules
In terms of ritualistic rules, the animal has to be in healthy shape, free of major defects, and of a certain age. Acceptable animals include sheep, goats, buffalo, and cattle. A sharp knife must be used to minimize the animal's suffering. Knives must not be sharpened in front of the animal, nor can one animal be slaughtered in front of another. The words "Bismillahi Allahu Akbar" must be recited during the sacrifice.
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