Eid celebrated in Bengal with prayers, animal sacrifice

The Muslim festival of sacrifice Eid-ul-Adha was celebrated with religious fervour across West Bengal on Tuesday.

The biggest congregation was organised on the arterial Indira Gandhi Sarani (Red road) in the state capital Kolkata, where thousands of members of the community offered prayers.

There was another big turnout outside the Nakhoda mosque in the city's Chitpur area for the special Namaaz. Similar prayer sessions were held in other mosques.

The prayers over, people hugged and greeted each other in traditional style. Those from other communities also extended wishes to their Muslim friends.

The prayers over, goats and sheep were sacrificed -- an act commemorating the sacrifice by Abraham. The sacrificed meat was then split into three parts, of which people making sacrifices kept a part for themselves and distributed the rest among relatives and the poor.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wished people on the occasion.

Also known as Bakrid or Eid-e-Qurban, it is the second major festival of Muslims.

--IANS

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