(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Thousands offer prayer sacrifice animals and get away to parks beaches and entertainment centres
Abu Dhabi/Dubai/Sharjah: Prayers and celebrations marked Eid Al Adha across the UAE with thousands of faithful gathering at mosques and musallas early morning for what was to be the start of a busy day.
The biggest congregation was at Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi where over 50000 people bowed before the Almighty Allah for His blessings on them.
A performer of the Buskers entertains children in City Walk which has elements of poetry amid colourful décor special light projections and rendering by vocalists and instrumentalists at the junction of Al Wasl Road and Al Safa Road in Dubai as part of the Eid in Dubai celebrations on Saturday evening.— KT photo by Dhes Handumon
Seventy-five-year-old Abu Khalid Syrian is happy to enjoy his second Eid here with his newly married son. “However I am longing earnestly to go back home and meet my friends and relatives as I always do every feast.”
Accompanied by his two sons 45-year-old Sherif Al Wakeel Egyptian said this was his 13th feast to spend in the UAE and he loves it so much. “I always take my children to the park where we eat play together and share the fun in the open air.”
President VP receive greetings from world leaders
Abu Dhabi — The President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has received cables of greetings from King Mohammed VI of Morocco and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey on Eid Al Adha.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai received a similar cable from the King of Morocco.
Shaikh Khalifa also received a cable of greetings from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on the occasion of Eid Al Adha. — Wam
Wearing masks and carrying balloons and sweets for young children Umm Sara Algerian was walking around the Ajman Eid Musalla along with her twin sister and daughter.
“I always do the same thing every feast to bring happiness to young children on this auspicious occasion. I also want to train my daughter to do the same and distribute gifts to her counterparts.”
Thirty-year-old Essam Mahmud said he is always very keen to take his family to the Musalla to see the crowds of people happily gathering at one place and shaking hands in harmony after offering the Eid prayers.
“Our programme for the day starts with a heavy breakfast full of different types of meat juices and soft drinks and then we go out to the beach and toy zone where my two daughters and son play and enjoy their time.”
Nearly 500 Pakistani community members gathered at the Pakistani Centre’s mosque on Muroor Street in Abu Dhabi for the Eid prayer and listening to the sermon by the Imam. Ambassador Asif Durrani and former Ambassador Ahsan ullah Khan were among the congregation.
People exchanged greetings after offering the prayer and enquired after each other.
Eid Al Adha which is celebrated to recall the grand sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) who took his beloved son to the altar to sacrifice him in the name of Allah thousands of Muslims scarified goats lambs and cows in the Capital.
The three abattoirs of the Capital located in Mina Zayed Shahama and Baniyas saw thousands of people who brought their animals to sacrifice following the footsteps of Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH).
At the Mina Zayed abattoir which is located next to Abu Dhabi Livestock Market an estimated 3000 animals were slaughtered by 2.30pm. There were over 400-500 people standing with their animals in queues waiting for their turn to slaughter.
The queue had been formed as early as 4.30am as people wanted to scarifice their animals as early as possible.
Mian Mohmmed Javed businessman from Musaffah said the people had a lot of choices to pick sacrificial animals — sheep lambs and goats from Australia Pakistan and Somalia.
A live Australian lamb with an average weight of 8-12kg had an average price of Dh600-900 said Chaudhary Shafi Ullah who had purchased ten animals for the big day.
The goats from Pakistan weighing 18-20kg had a price range between Dh800 and Dh1200.
The prices of cows weighing 80-100kg ranged between Dh4500 and Dh5000 said Chaudhary Iftikhar who purchased a cow from the livestock market.
Sahib Din trader was not happy with the slow business the market had witnessed for the past three days before Eid Al Adha.
He said the prices were stable when compared with the ones before Eid.
One reason for slow business he said was that many people are donating to the Emirates Red Crescent which slaughters animals on behalf of its donors and distributes the meat to the poor and destitute.
Last year was much better than this year in terms of sale and profit said Sahib Din.
“One faithful will scarifice about 10000 goats while another will slaughter 3000 in association with the society which has impacted the market’s business” he further said.
The abattoir in Shahama which has a livestock market next to it also saw a rush on Saturday as people from Dubai’s areas bordering Abu Dhabi came to buy and slaughter their animals in big numbers.
The people remained indoors more or less in the Capital till afternoon as the day was hot and humid. Towards the evening streets parks and beaches around the country were bustling with holiday-makers.
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