Eid-ul-Adha — widely known in India as Bakrid — is the second and larger of the two major Eid festivals in Islam, observed as the festival of sacrifice. It falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God — and God's mercy in providing a ram to be sacrificed instead.
1 A father's test, and the ram that spared his son
Eid-ul-Adha, the "festival of sacrifice," takes its meaning from a story shared across Islam, Christianity and Judaism: Prophet Ibrahim was commanded in a dream to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as a test of faith. As he prepared to carry out God's command, God intervened and provided a ram to be sacrificed in the boy's place. The festival commemorates Ibrahim's obedience and trust in God.
The day begins with a congregational Eid namaz (prayer) at the mosque or an open ground (Eidgah), followed by Qurbani — the ritual sacrifice of an animal, typically a goat, sheep, or, shared among several families, a cow or buffalo, in communities where this is practised. Eid-ul-Adha follows roughly two months after Eid-ul-Fitr and coincides with the final days of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
2 Submission, mercy and a meal split three ways
Submission, sacrifice and generosity — those three values sit underneath everything else on Eid-ul-Adha. For Muslims, it is a reminder that faith sometimes calls for giving up what is most precious, and that mercy accompanies obedience.
The ritual division of the sacrificial meat — one share for the family, one for relatives and friends, and one for the poor and needy — turns an act of personal devotion into an act of communal charity, ensuring even the least well-off share in the occasion.
A festival tied to Hajj
Eid-ul-Adha falls on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah, timed to coincide with the culmination of the Hajj — the pilgrimage to Mecca that every able Muslim is expected to undertake once in a lifetime. Even Muslims who are not on pilgrimage mark the day in solidarity with those who are.
3 Namaz at dawn, Qurbani, and the walk to relatives' homes
Eid namaz
The day begins with a special congregational prayer at the mosque or Eidgah, usually performed in the morning, followed by a sermon (khutbah).
Qurbani
Those who are able perform Qurbani — the ritual sacrifice of an animal such as a goat, sheep or, shared among families, a cow or buffalo — carried out according to religious guidelines.
Sharing the meat
The meat is traditionally divided into three parts — one for the family, one for relatives and friends, and one for the poor — so the occasion's generosity reaches beyond the household.
New clothes and greetings
Families dress in new or best clothes, visit relatives and friends, and exchange the greeting "Eid Mubarak" over shared meals and sweets.
Mukhed's Muslim community — around 9% of the taluka's population, per the 2011 Census — marks Eid-ul-Adha with morning prayers, Qurbani and the sharing of meat with neighbours and those in need. It joins the fasting month's Eid-ul-Fitr and the Prophet's birthday observance of Eid Milad-un-Nabi among the major dates on the town's festival calendar for its Muslim residents.
4 Bakrid, and looking after the animal properly
Regionally the name changes even where the ritual doesn't. In South Asia the festival is often called Bakrid, since a goat (bakri) is the animal most commonly used for the sacrifice, though some families choose a sheep, cow or camel instead. Islamic teaching insists that the animal used for Qurbani be healthy and treated with kindness — cruelty or neglect is held to undo the spiritual meaning of the ritual entirely.
5 Its link to Hajj, and the closing days of Dhu al-Hijjah
The timing isn't a coincidence. Eid-ul-Adha falls on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar — right at the close of Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam. Even for those not physically gathered in Mecca for the pilgrimage, the festival is tied to the same spirit of obedience and submission that brings pilgrims together on the plains of Arafat, which is part of why Muslim communities worldwide mark the day together, even without taking part in the pilgrimage itself.
6 Frequently asked questions
When is Eid-ul-Adha in 2027?
Eid-ul-Adha is expected around 16 May 2027, the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, though as with all Islamic dates the exact day depends on the sighting of the moon and can shift by a day.
What is Eid-ul-Adha and why is it celebrated?
Eid-ul-Adha, also called Bakrid, is the festival of sacrifice in Islam. It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God and God's provision of a ram in his place, and is marked with Eid namaz and Qurbani.
How is the Qurbani meat shared?
The meat from the Qurbani sacrifice is traditionally divided into three parts — one for the family, one for relatives and friends, and one for the poor and needy — turning the ritual into an act of communal charity.
Is Eid-ul-Adha observed in Mukhed?
Yes — Mukhed's Muslim community, around 9% of the taluka's population per the 2011 Census, marks Eid-ul-Adha with morning prayers, Qurbani and the sharing of meat with neighbours and those in need.
How is Eid-ul-Adha connected to Hajj, and why is it also called Bakrid?
Eid-ul-Adha falls on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, right at the close of the Hajj pilgrimage. Those not performing Hajj still mark the day in the same spirit of obedience and submission that brings pilgrims together. In South Asia a goat is the animal most commonly used for the sacrifice, which is why the day is also called Bakrid, though some families choose a sheep, cow or camel instead.