SRINAGAR: Before dawn one morning, 34-year-old Naila from a village in north Kashmir woke her teenage son, Imran, asking him to check on the sheep they had been raising for Eid-ul-Adha.The animal, chosen months earlier for sacrifice, had become a part of their daily routine.
Imran, 16, hurried outside with a bucket of water and gently poured it into the trough. “Drink up, my companion,” he murmured, softly stroking its wool.
He had grown very close to the sheep, spending many hours feeding it, washing it, and sometimes placing a garland around its neck for special occasions.
“For a long time, he has cared more about the sheep than anything else,” Naila shared. “Every night, he tells me he feels sad about the sacrifice, but I remind him why it is important to us.”
The ritual of Qurbani, or animal sacrifice during Eid-ul-Adha, holds great religious meaning. Muslims worldwide remember the story of Prophet Ibrahim, who was asked to sacrifice his son to show faith.
At the last moment, a ram was sent in place of his son, beginning the tradition of this act of devotion.
In the district of Baramulla, 50-year-old Javed Khan sat with his son, Adil, beside the sheep they have cared for over the past months. “He says he cannot imagine letting it go,” Javed said. “But I explain to him that it is a trust from God, and giving it back is part of our belief.”
Adil has tended to the animal carefully since it arrived at their home six months ago. “We feed it well, keep it clean, and protect it from the cold weather. This isn’t just an animal we bought — we have lived with it,” he added.
As Eid-ul-Adha approaches, open grounds in Srinagar, such as the one at Eidgah, transform into bustling markets filled with sellers and buyers from across the Valley.
Sheep, goats, cattle, and occasionally camels fill the enclosures as families, many with children, examine animals to find the right one that fits both their traditions and budget.
The atmosphere is charged with emotion. Many sellers bring animals they have raised themselves, while buyers search for the perfect sacrificial animal.
In Kupwara, Hameed, a shepherd from the mountains, loads his sheep onto a truck carefully. “Use every part of the animal with respect,” he advises a customer. “This animal has given you everything it had.”For many, the sacrifice day is difficult.
It marks the end of weeks or months of care and attachment. Yet, it also renews a tradition deeply rooted in faith and passed down through generations.
