Common Eid-ul-Adha Activities in a Pakistani Household!

Eid ul Adha is known by a variety of names; Eid e Qurban, Bari Eid, Bakra Eid and Namkeen Eid. Regardless of what you call it, there are no two opinions that food is the backbone of the festival. This Eid is celebrated to commemorate the sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim(AS) and his willingness to obey Allah (SWT)’s command. Before he could sacrifice his son for Allah, a lamb was replaced under his knife. And so, every 10th Zul Hijjah, Muslims are to sacrifice an animal, divide the meat into three parts- the needy, the relatives and for yourself.

Given how this Eid is all about food, I personally like to shop my groceries beforehand. Online grocery shopping in Islamabad is very popular and this year, that’s what I did too! And I have to say, it saves so much time and money! The 3 days of Eid are the most awaited and important days of the year and thus, take a lot of planning. Other than the food, here are the things everyone can relate to regarding Eid: 

Last-Minute Shopping! 

Are you even Paksitani if this doesn’t happen at your house? Every year, at both Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha, there seems to be something that needs to be bought at the last second! Going to the shopping centres on Chand Raat is a sport of its own so if you can avoid it, please do! Since a few years, I’ve started to make lists a week before Eid and they’ve proven to be effective most years! 

Getting Knives Sharpened:

The knife sharpening business really picks up a few days before Eid, and understandably so! The butchers become a hot commodity during the 3 days of Eid, so they don’t really have time to chop meat just the way you like it. This means you need to do the butcher's work yourself! And thus, require those sharp knives! 

Home Decoration and Cleaning: 

Home decor is necessary for creating the festive mood around you! So, on Eids, the furniture is moved around, surfaces crystal cleaned and everything is set up in the most presentable manner for the guests! To avoid last moment cleanups on the Eid day, it’s best to finish decorating and cleaning a day before. Unless you live in a desert, you won’t be suffering from a mountain of dust on your furniture just after a day! 

Applying Henna: 

What is Eid without Mehndi for girls? You’ll see lines of girls in front of henna parlours waiting for their turn! The friends who are good at applying henna designs are truly invaluable on chand raat!

Qurbani: 

The main event is Qurbani. The animal you’ve purchased, fed for a few days, gets sacrificed for the pleasure of Allah. Hadith encourage to sacrifice the animal with a sharp knife; quick and swiftly so the animal dies comfortably. 

Cooking: 

Eid ul Adha and scrumptious food go hand in hand. But, deciding what to cook is a tough decision. It’s a good idea to ask your family what they’d like to eat so you can meet their expectations and enjoy cooking for them! It should be noted that men cook as good as women, so they shouldn’t shy away from displaying their skills on Eid! 

Eating: 

Eid ul Adha is all about stuffing your tummy till you can’t eat anymore. You have food at your home, you visit your relatives, get food over there, go over to your friends and are served with food over there too! 

Pictures: 

It’s the world of technology and we don’t need to rely on memory to save the most precious moments of our life anymore. On Eids, you dress up, are merry and with family so you should take pictures! Plus, It doesn’t hurt to flaunt your Eid look on Instagram and Snapchat! 

Eidi Collection: 

The most awaited part of Eid- Eidi! For children, especially, the dream that they’ll become rich for a few days keeps a smile on their faces! The more people you visit, the more Eidi will be collected! In my opinion, this is one of the few moments when having a lot of relatives is advantageous!