Saudis celebrate Eid-ul-Azha

Eid ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of the Muslims, is being observed in Saudi Arabia and several other Middle Eastern Arab countries on Thursday. Thousands of Muslims started going to the Eidgah in Riyadh, Jeddah and other cities of the kingdom just after the Fajr prayers today. The central Eid congregation in Riyadh was held around 6:00am at Dheera Masjid. Prayers also were held in other mosques, including the Holy Kaaba and Masjid E Nabawi. The Muslims exchanged Eid greetings with one another and slaughtered sacrificial animals by the name of Almighty Allah. In the lunar Islamic calendar, Eid-ul-Azha, the festival of sacrifice, falls on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijjah (Jil Hajj).
Eid ul-Azha marks the end of the Holy Hajj, a religious pilgrimage undertaken by millions of Muslims each year to the Holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, according to a news agency.
- biplab