Eid ul-Adha — the Festival of Sacrifice — commemorates the supreme test of faith: Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail at God's command, and God's replacing the child with a ram at the last moment. For Indian Muslim families, it is a festival of deep religious significance, community solidarity, and the spirit of generosity — the Qurbani meat distributed to the poor being one of the most direct expressions of Islamic values in practice.
Quick Answer
Eid ul-Adha 2026: approximately June 7 (confirmed by moon sighting on 10th Dhul Hijjah). Day begins: ghusl, new clothes, Eid prayers at mosque or Eid Gah. Qurbani (sacrifice of goat/sheep/cow): meat divided in three — family, relatives, poor. Eid foods: Biryani, Nihari, Seekh Kebab, Sheer Khurma. Distribute meat and sweets to neighbours.
The Story of Ibrahim and Ismail
The Qurbani commemorates the story of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), who received a divine command in a dream to sacrifice his son Ismail. Ibrahim told Ismail, who willingly accepted. As Ibrahim prepared to sacrifice his son, God stopped him and said: 'You have fulfilled the vision — this is how we reward those who do good.' A ram was provided as the sacrifice instead. This story — of complete surrender to God and the reward of that surrender — is the spiritual heart of Eid ul-Adha.
Hajj and Eid ul-Adha
Eid ul-Adha coincides with the culminating days of the Hajj pilgrimage at Mecca — the fifth pillar of Islam. On the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, pilgrims at Hajj perform the sacrifice at Mina while Muslims worldwide perform their own Qurbani simultaneously. The collective spiritual significance of millions of Muslims worldwide performing the same sacrifice on the same day is one of the most powerful expressions of the global Muslim Ummah (community).
Eid ul-Adha for NRI Muslim Families
NRI Muslim families observe Eid ul-Adha through: arranging Qurbani through local halal butchers or contributing to collective community Qurbanis; attending community Eid prayers; preparing Eid foods at home; and calling family in India. Many NRI families contribute to Qurbani back in their home villages in India as an act of maintaining the family tradition even from abroad. Online Qurbani services facilitate this.
💡 Family tradition tip
Document your family's Eid ul-Adha traditions — the specific Qurbani arrangement your family makes each year, the specific meat dishes prepared, the specific people your family distributes meat to. The spirit of generosity and the specific community bonds maintained through Eid ul-Adha are core Muslim family heritage.