Bakrid, also known as Id-ul-Azha, is the festival when Muslims all over the world renew their faith and allegiance to Allah. It falls in the last month of the Islamic calendar and coincides with the Haj pilgrimage at Mecca.

Bakrid commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim's implicit trust in Allah. According to popular belief, the Prophet Ibrahim was put to a tough test by Allah to prove his faith. He was asked to sacrifice his son Ismail without any hesitation in a dream that recurred thrice. So Ibrahim took his son Ismail to the Mount of Mina near Mecca. There Ismail blindfolded Ibrahim and the Prophet made the offering. When he opened his eyes, he was astonished to find a goat lying upon the altar and his son Ismail standing in front of him. Ever since, faithfuls of Islam the world over offer sacrifices to commemorate this test of faith. As per the doctrine, the sacrifice signifies the readiness of the sacrificer to lay down his life for Islam.

The way in which Muslims celebrate this holiday is basically the same, regardless of where they live. On Id day there is the special prayer or namaz, which is held in mosques early in the morning as prayers are to be offered on an empty stomach. After this the kurbani or sacrifice is performed. Muslims traditionally offer the sacrifice of goats, sheep or camels as part of the festival. Then the meat is divided into three portions - one part for the poor, another for friends and relatives and whatever remains is for the family. The essence of Bakrid pervades throughout the day with prayers and sacrifices.

In India, the animal used most often for sacrifice is the goat - which is why the occasion is spoken of in Urdu as Bakhr or Bakri-Id. The festival is celebrated with ritualistic fervor in Andhra Pradesh and in particular, the old city of Hyderabad. Temporary markets spring up where thousands of goats are brought for sale. Priced anywhere between Rs1,200/- to Rs5,000/- depending on the age and weight of the animal, the goats are sold to eager customers. Women traditionally welcome the guests.

For the millions at Haj in Saudi Arabia, it is a big day. On the day of Id, the pilgrims reach the grounds of Mina where they sacrifice an animal each. It was here that Ibrahim is believed to have sacrificed his son. The pilgrims then shave their heads. The purpose is to be one with the millions of devotees who converge to Mecca each year for the Haj.

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