Eid-ul-Azha celebrated

The Muslims across the country celebrated Eid-ul-Azha, the festival of sacrifice, on Monday with due religious fervour and solemnity.

The day's programme began with offering Eid prayers by millions of Muslims at mosques and eidgahs throughout the country seeking peace and prosperity for the nation.

The prayers were followed by sacrificing animals.

To commemorate Hazrat Ibrahim's (AS) devotion to almighty Allah as illustrated by his readiness to give up his dearest son Hazrat Ismail (AS), well-off Muslims sacrifice animals and share the sacrificial meat with their relatives, neighbours and poor people.

Eid-ul-Azha does not simply commemorate the unique sacrifice made by them, it also testifies eloquently to the way in which both father and son cheerfully offered to suffer any self-sacrifice, however painful or difficult it might be, in order to obey the command of Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds.

The main Eid congregation of the country was held at the National Eidgah at 8:30am Monday, attended by President Zillur Rahman among others. Separate arrangements were made at the Eidgah for women, diplomats and their wives.

Besides, five more Eid congregations were held at the Baitul Mokarram National Mosque at 7:00am, 8:00am, 9:00am, 10:00am and 10:45am.

Eid congregations were also hold at different mosques and eidgahs in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country, with the biggest congregation at historic Sholakia Maidan in Kishoreganj.

Important public buildings, thoroughfares and road islands of the capital have been decorated with national flags and banners inscribed with 'Eid Mubarak.' Major government buildings have also been illuminated.

The public holiday for Eid-ul-Azha has begun on Sunday. Newspaper offices will remain closed for three days from Sunday.

The president, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Sunday gave separate messages, greeting the countrymen on this occasion.

The state-run Bangladesh Betar and BTV and private television and radio channels are airing special programmes on the occasion. The national dailies also brought out special supplements on Sunday highlighting the significance of the festival.

Special meals were served at jails, orphanages, vagrant centres and dormitories on the day.

Additional contingents of law enforcers have been deployed at different strategic points to ensure safe celebration of the festival.

Although the word Eid in Arabic means 'joy,' Eid-ul-Azha is certainly not an occasion for unbridled fun and frolic, not an opportunity for immoderate gluttony.

It is a solemn, sacred festival which enables a person to enjoy, in the right spirit of Islam, through Azha, sacrifice and surrender, resignation and renunciation, selflessness and total submission to the Will of God.

Eid-ul-Azha, the largest religion festival of Muslims, brings for the Muslims divine blessing, an occasion not only to enjoy but also to receive Allah's Mercy and reward through sacrifice and benevolence, patience and constancy.