A Muslim man feeds goats ahead of the sacrificial Eid al-Adha festival. (Agence France-Presse)
Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated on Monday in the national capital with Muslims offering special prayers in Eidgahs and mosques and sacrificing animals, even as security arrangement was stepped up ahead of the festival.
Markets across the national capital, especially in the walled city in central and north Delhi were decked up and men and women were seen doing last minute shopping before the festival of sacrifice.
Eid-ul-Azha commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah.
Ahead of the festival, Jama Masjid and Meena Bazaar since the last two weeks saw negotiations among the buyer and sellers of animal for sacrifice.
Goat prices ranged from several thousand to lakhs of rupees in the market depending upon its built, pedigree and physical features.
"We had come to buy a goat for Eid. My son is very excited about it. Once we get one of our choice, we will take it home. It would be bathed tomorrow morning and decked up with flowers. The animal will be sacrificed after offering namaz," said Abdul Sattar, a software professional who had reached the market with his seven-year-old son.
Hundreds of goat sellers from neighboring states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan have been camping in these areas since the past two weeks.
According to DCP (North) Madhur Verma, under whose jurisdiction some of the major venues like Idgah and Fatehpuri Masjid where lakhs of devotees will offer 'Eid ki namaz' on Monday, said that security has been beefed up in the area and all arrangements are in place for a peaceful celebrations.
Maulana Mufti Mohammed Mukkaram, Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid said that the namaz will take place at the mosque on Monday at 8:30 AM.
The sacrifice of animals such as sheep, goat or camel will be done after prayers and the meat will be distributed among family members, neighbours and the poor.