Muslims celebrate Eid al‑Adha as Hajj draws 1.7 million

Muslims around the world observed Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, this week, with millions gathering for prayers and celebrations that emphasized faith, charity, and community. The festival, one of the most important in Islam, commemorates the Quranic story of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, an act that was replaced with a ram.

The date of the festival, determined by the lunar Islamic calendar, fell on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijjah. This timing coincided with the culmination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, where officials reported over 1.7 million participants this year. In many parts of the world, including most of India, the main day of observance was Thursday, though some regions, including parts of Jammu and Kashmir, celebrated on Wednesday due to regional moonsighting practices.

From the early morning, large congregations of worshippers gathered at mosques, prayer grounds, and open spaces for special Eid prayers, known as Salat al-Eid. In India, major gatherings were reported at historic sites like the Jama Masjid in Delhi and the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, where tens of thousands offered prayers....