Bangladesh Muslims celebrate festival of animal sacrifice

　　DHAKA, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Muslims across Bangladesh celebrated the first day of Eid al-Adha on Monday, which marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

　　In capital Dhaka and elsewhere across the country, Muslims offered special prayers seeking divine blessings, peace and prosperity in tens of thousands of congregations of Eid al-Adha, also known as the festival of animal sacrifice.

　　The main congregation in Dhaka was held on Monday morning at the national Eidgah (ground specified for saying Eid prayers) in Dhaka where Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin and ministers, lawmakers and the elite of society said their prayers amid tight security.

　　The festival is celebrated on the 10th day of the twelfth and final month in the Islamic lunar calendar after the holy Hajj. It also occurs approximately two months and 10 days after Eid al-Fitr, another big religious festival that marks the end of Muslims' holy fasting month of Ramadan.

　　After prayers, Muslims in Bangladesh sacrificed animals such as sheep, cows, goats and camels in the name of Allah almighty.

　　Muslim who has financial means sacrifices animals and distributes the meat to family and the poor.

　　Millions of poor people who cannot afford to buy meat even once a year, get a chance to eat meat up to their satisfaction as rich people will distribute much meat of their sacrificial animals among their poor neighbors and relatives.

　　The Bangladeshi government declared a three-day holiday starting from Sunday on this occasion.

　　This year, authorities estimated a demand for 10.7 million sacrificial animals nationwide, while over 12.9 million animals are available for the ritual.

　　Millions of Bangladeshis traditionally return to their village homes to celebrate Eid al-Adha and enjoy family reunion. ■