Mumbai Attack Mourning, many Muslims to forego animal sacrifice on Eid

by Sanjay Jha | December 8, 2008 at 11:45 pm

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Eid-ul-Azha spells festivity, joy and celebration for Muslim community but Mumbai terror attack had cast a spell of gloom on this occasion. The mood on Eid-ul-Zuha Tuesday is distinctly sombre in Mumbai, which is still recovering from its 60-hour terror siege.

As a mark of protest against the Mumbai terror attacks Muslims in India have toned down Eid-ul-Azha celebrations. a section of the Muslims also appealed to the community members in the country to observe Black Eid on Tuesday.

On this day, Muslims sacrifice goats and distribute its meat among family, friends and the poor. Muslims believe a sacrificed goat is a reflection of one’s own spiritual sacrifice, and see it as essential for achieving communion with Allah. Eid-ul-Zuha is a time to offer the perfect goat to the Prophet. But this year many Muslims have decided to cut the number of goats.

"When the city is in grief, it looks odd to dress in new clothes and jewellery even if it's a happy occasion," says Nagpada-based Ashraf who has just completed her graduation from Sophia College.

Nuzhat isn't alone in marking a modest Bakr-Eid, the most important Muslim festival after Eid-ul-Fitr (at the end of the fasting month of Ramzan), this year. In fact, many families have decided for a cut on the number of goats they had planned to sacrifice.

Imran Mulla, a resident of Arman Building in Mazgaon says that a couple of families in his society will forgo the sacrifice of animals, as a mark of respect for the terror-affected families. Though no family agreed to say it on record, Mulla claimed some members in his locality have planned to celebrate Bakr-Eid without sacrificing a goat.

However, some youngsters, apart from hanging out with friends might visit one of the hospitals where the injured of the 26/11 massacre are recuperating. "Personally, I haven't lost any relative or close friend in the recent terror attacks, but a visit to one of the hospitals on one of the three days is what many of my friends and I are planning," said Afaque Azad, 26, a sound engineer.