The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Rain upsets Bakrid plans

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 21, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Rain upsets Bakrid plans

Staff Reporter

Three Jamats from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Rains render playgrounds unfit for prayers
A 40-kg sheep from Punjab sold for
Rs. 45,000

BANGALORE: For the first time in a long while, Bangaloreans will offer Idd-Ud-Zuha (Bakrid) prayers in the city’s mosques and community halls on Friday.

With the rain refusing to relent till Thursday evening, heads of various masjid committees and community leaders decided to offer Idd namaaz (prayers) in mosques in more than three “jamaats” (groups) from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The decision was taken after consulting all Imams and Ulemas (religious heads) in the city.

Although the heads of various local Masjid Committees had managed to get permission from Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Wednesday to use playgrounds for Idd prayers, their efforts have gone waste now.

“Though we have the permission, we may be forced to pray in mosques because of the rain. Such a thing is happening for the first time in ages.

“We had been praying on the Bangalore East Football Ground adjacent to East Railway Station every year.

Now, we have made arrangements for prayers in Sir Ismail Sait Mosque and our jamaat is at 8.15 a.m.,” Mohammed Haroon Sait Saleem, convenor of Muslim Welfare Association Eidain Committee — Frazer Town told The Hindu.

Spirit of sacrifice

Bakrid is the festival to celebrate the spirit of sacrifice. On this day, Muslims offer two “rakhaths” of special namaz.

According to Islamic scholar Taj Mohammad who is an office-bearer of the Karnataka Wakf Committee Bakrid is a festival of sacrifices in commemoration of the supreme sacrifice made by Ibrahim and his son Ishaq in carrying out the wishes of the almighty.

On this occasion, Muslims offer animal sacrifice (usually sheep, goats, ox and camels).

Prices soar

Jabbar Ahmed, a wholesale meat merchant, said that there was a considerable rise in the prices of sheep this time, particularly as the animals bought for sacrifice should be in good health and well built.

A 40-kg sheep brought from Punjab went for a whopping Rs. 45,000 at the Chamarajpet Bakri Mandi, near the Idgah Maidan.

Others were more modest, with average prices for sheep and goats ranging between Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 25,000. They fluctuated between Rs. 6,000 and Rs. 40,000 for oxen and Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 25,000 for camels.

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