Eid al-Adha — Late May / June (date shifts annually)
Of the two great Eids in Islam, Eid al-Adha carries the deeper solemnity. Known in India as Bakrid or Badi Eid, it falls on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and coincides with the culmination of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah that is one of the five pillars of Islam. At its heart is the story of Prophet Ibrahim, who, commanded by God to sacrifice his son Ismail, submitted without question, only for God to send the Angel Jibreel with a ram in his place, a moment of divine mercy commemorated by Muslims across the world every year.
Observed across India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka over three to four days, the festival begins before dawn with a communal Eid prayer at mosques and open Eidgahs. Those who can afford it perform Qurbani, the ritual sacrifice of an animal, with the meat divided into three parts: for the family, for relatives, and for those in need. In cities like Hyderabad, Lucknow, and Delhi, the occasion brings streets alive with the fragrance of biryani, the warmth of shared meals, and the quiet generosity that defines the day.
For visitors, Eid al-Adha offers a window into a faith that takes the act of giving with absolute seriousness.
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