The Muslim community across Sri Lanka is celebrating Eid-ul-Adha today with religious fervour, marking one of the holiest occasions in the Islamic calendar. Devotees gathered at mosques early in the morning to offer Eid prayers. In Colombo, the District Masjid Federation coordinated special arrangements for Qurbani or Udhiyya, facilitating animal sacrifices at centralised locations to ensure safety and accessibility.
The festival also marks the annual Hajj pilgrimage which was completed yesterday at Makkah in Saudi Arabia. Through a statement, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake greeted the Muslim community on the occasion and stated that at a time when Sri Lanka is striving for national development and reconciliation, the enduring values of Hajj – unity, sacrifice, and fraternity – offer profound guidance for the nation’s progress.
Eid-ul-Adha, celebrated on the tenth day of Dhul Hijja, the last month of the Islamic calendar, commemorates the devotion and obedience of Prophet Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his son as an act of submission to Allah’s command.
The festival underscores the values of faith, humility, and selflessness, and serves as a reminder of the importance of sacrifice for the greater good. It is also a time for sharing with those in need, as a portion of the sacrificial meat is distributed among the less fortunate, reinforcing the spirit of charity and compassion.
