Srinagar, Dec 20: Livestock sellers in Srinagar brought their best goats to the local market for sale and did brisk business ahead of Eid-ul-Zuha.

Eid-ul-Zuha or Baqr-e-Eid is a Muslim festival signifying the feast of sacrifice. It is celebrated to mark the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Eid-ul-Zuha which falls on the tenth day of Zil-Haji, the last month of the year according to the Islamic calendar, will be celebrated across the country on December 21.

Livestock owners make the year's best profit at this time.

In Kashmir's nomadic goatherds called Bakerwals, who live in the interior have brought livestock from Rajouri and Poonch Districts. They are selling goats like 'hot cakes' these days.

“We are getting a lot of stock from outside areas. The rate that we have fixed is a guiding factor but the fact is that sacrificial meat is priceless, " said M. Majeed Mir, Director, Consumer and Distribution.

While the prices of goats continue to rise every year, there is a corresponding increase in the sales turnover also.

Muslims sacrifice goats and donate the meat among family, friends and the poor.

People believe that the sacrifice of a goat reflects one's own spiritual sacrifice, which is essential for achieving communion with Allah.

"Almost every family sacrifices 3-4 goats and in some cases more than that. There are people who buy 10-20 goats as well. Maximum sacrifices during the festival are done here in Kashmir, " said Altaf Ahmed, a local.

More than 50000 animals are slaughtered during the period of Baqr-e-Eid in valley alone out of which 50 percent is imported from the others states and the rest is of locals.

According to the Holy Quran, God appeared in Prophet Ibrahim or Abraham's dream and asked him to sacrifice something that was most dear to him.

Prophet Ibrahim decided to sacrifice his own son, Ismail. However, when he put a knife on Ismail's throat, God replaced his son with a goat through a miracle.

For Muslims, this is a time to offer the perfect goat, as much as their pocket can afford to buy, to the Prophet.

The festival seeks to convey that sacrifice is supreme. (ANI)