Muslims in Asia celebrate Eid al-Adha with a festival of sacrifice and traditional feasting

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Muslims in Asia celebrated Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, on Monday with food and prayers for people in Gaza, affected by the Israel-Hamas war.

One of the biggest Islamic holidays commemorates Prophet Ibrahim slaughtering his cattle and animals and distributing the meat to the poor. It is a joyous occasion for devout Muslims to buy and slaughter animals and distribute two-thirds of the meat to the poor, as well as the reverent observances that coincide with funerals. Haj pilgrimage In Saudi Arabia.

Much of Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Bangladesh, celebrated Eid al-Adha on Monday, while Muslims in other parts of the world, including Saudi Arabia, Libya, Egypt and Yemen, celebrated the holiday on Sunday.

On Monday, worshipers stood shoulder-to-shoulder in communal prayers in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. In their sermons, preachers called people to pray for Muslims in Gaza and Rafah.

„Our prayers and thoughts are now with our brothers and sisters who are suffering in Palestine,” worshiper Adi Prasetya said after praying in a field in south Jakarta. „There are now many opportunities to give our help through charities.”

„May Allah give strength to the victims of war… may the divided live in peace again,” said Berlina Yustiza, another devotee.

Although Indonesia has more Muslims than any other country in the world, its traditions marking Eid al-Adha are influenced by other religions.

Residents of Yogyakarta, an ancient center of Javanese culture and home to centuries-old royal dynasties, believe they can catch crops arranged in cone-shaped piles paraded from the royal palace. For the Gauman Grand Mosque, it will bring them good luck. They scrambled to grab a variety of food items made of fruits, vegetables and traditional snacks.

A day before the Sacrifice Festival, people in the city of Pasuruan, East Java, show their thanks and respect for the sacrificed animals by dressing them up like brides. Before being handed over to the sacrificial team, the sacrificial cow is garlanded seven times, wrapped in a shield, a turban and a prayer mat, and is paraded in a tradition known as the „mantan sabi” or bridal cow.

Villagers in Temak, a town in Central Java province, celebrated the holiday with a cattle procession called „Abidan” to give thanks for the food and harvest. They bring food in bamboo containers to the town square and eat together after praying. Locals believe that the procession will bring wealth and if it is abandoned, it will bring disaster.

Eid al-Adha commemorates the Quranic story of Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice Ismail as an act of obedience to God. Before his sacrifice, God offered a ram as an offering. In Christian and Jewish accounts, Abraham was commanded to kill another son, Isaac.