Friends, charity, faith, and tradition come together each year on Eid al-Adha. Indian Muslims gather together for an enjoyable time and live out the values of the Muslim faith. 

In this article, you’ll learn about Eid al-Adha in India, from how it got started to how Indian Muslims celebrate today. 

Let’s get started.

1. What is Eid al-Adha?

Eid al-Adha, often called “The Feast of the Sacrifice” in English, is one of the most important Muslim holidays worldwide. 

It originates from the story of Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his son Ismael. According to the Quran, Ibrahim had asked Allah to give him a son, and Allah did so. But as Ismael grew older, Ibrahim began having recurring dreams of slaughtering his son and realized it was an order from Allah to sacrifice his son. Upon Ibrahim telling his son this, Ismael told his father to do as Allah willed. Ibrahim prepared his son for the sacrifice and was about to slaughter him, but was stopped by a voice. This voice told him that the “vision” had already been completed. Ibrahim was given a lamb to sacrifice in Ismael’s place, and Ismael was revealed to be a righteous prophet.

Today, the Muslim celebration of this holiday focuses on selflessness and serves as a reminder that Allah blesses the faithful. Eid al-Adha is also associated with the willingness to give up cherished possessions to glorify Allah.

→ See our Religion vocabulary list to learn the names of different religions in Hindi! 

2. When is Eid al-Adha in India?

The date of Eid al-Adha varies each year on the Gregorian calendar, as it takes place on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah. The holiday then lasts for roughly three days. 

Here’s a list of this holiday’s tentative start date for the next ten years.

Year	Start Date
2020	July 31
2021	July 20
2022	July 10
2023	June 29
2024	June 17
2025	June 7
2026	May 27
2027	May 17
2028	May 6
2029	April 24

Note that these dates may not be entirely accurate, and may vary. The date of Eid al-Adha is officially determined each year by professional moon-sighters, and the dates above are only expected estimates.

3. How is Eid al-Adha Celebrated?

On the Eid al-Adha holiday, Indian Muslims gather together for ईद नमाज़ (iid namaaz), or “Eid prayer,” in mosques and in more open spaces. Many people opt to नए कपड़े पहनना (naye kapde pahan na), or “wear new clothes,” for these gatherings, and to offer each other Eid al-Adha greetings. Due to the large number of Muslims living in India, this Eid al-Adha prayer time in India is known to sometimes cause traffic or otherwise make transportation difficult, so keep this in mind if you plan on visiting! 

One of the most important Eid al-Adha observances is that of sacrificing an animal. In light of Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son—and Allah’s provision of a lamb to sacrifice in Ismael’s place—many Muslims भगवान के नाम पे भेड़,गाय,बकरे,भैंस या ऊट की बलि चढ़ाना (bhagwaan ke naam pe bhed,gaye,bakre,bhains ya oot ki bali chadhaana), or “sacrifice a sheep, cow, goat, buffalo, or camel in the name of God.” 

It’s worth noting that this sacrifice is not used as an atonement for sins, and it’s said that the blood and meat of this animal don’t reach Allah at all. Rather, this sacrifice is more about selflessness and charity, and is a way of showing devotion to Allah (which pleases Him). The sacrificed animal, therefore, is usually divided into three portions: one portion for the poor and needy, one portion to bring home to one’s own family, and one portion to give away to friends and other relatives. 

Eid al-Adha in India is the perfect occasion to prepare and enjoy meat-based meals and other tasty dishes!  

→What’s Your Favorite Indian Food? Check out our vocabulary list to find out, and keep your eyes open for our upcoming blog article all about Indian Cuisine!

→Also, see our list of the Top Tourist Attractions in India to plan for your upcoming trip.

4. Islam & Mosques in India

Did you know that India and the Arab world had trading relations long before the introduction of Islam? 

Perhaps it’s for this reason that Islam spread fairly quickly in India. The country has many mosques, a couple of which date back to the 600 ADs! 

You can read more about Indian mosques on Wikipedia. 

5. Must-Know Hindi Eid al-Adha Vocabulary 

Let’s review some of the Hindi vocabulary words and phrases from this article! 

• भेड़ [n.]

bhed

sheep

• बकरीद [n.]

bakri id

Eid al-Adha

• नए कपड़े पहनना

naye kapde pahan na

Wear new clothes

• भगवान के नाम पे भेड़,गाय,बकरे,भैंस या ऊट की बलि चढ़ाना

bhagwaan ke naam pe bhed,gaye,bakre,bhains ya oot ki bali chadhaana

Sacrifice a sheep, cow, goat, buffalo, or camel in the name of God

• बलिदान [n.]

baliDaan

Sacrifice

• मुसलमान [n.]

musalmaan

Muslim

• बड़ी ईद [n.]

badii iid

Greater Eid

• गोश्त का एक तिहाई हिस्सा दोस्तों और पड़ोसियों को देना

goshT ka ek Tihaayi hissa DosTon aur padosiyon ko Dena

Give away one third of the meat to friends and neighbors

• ईद नमाज़

iid namaaz

Eid prayer

• परिवार और दोस्तों की महफ़िल

parivaar aur Doston ki mahfil

Family and friend gathering

• गोश्त का एक तिहाई हिस्सा ज़रूरतमंद को देना

goshT ka ek Tihaayi hissa zaruraTmanD ko Dena

Donate one third or more of the meat to the poor and needy

• बक्र ईद [n.]

bakr iid

Bakrid

Remember that you can find each of these words with an audio pronunciation on our Hindi Eid al-Adha vocabulary list for pronunciation practice! 

Final Thoughts

The importance of Eid al-Adha for Muslims in India can’t be overstated. This is a holiday of community, charity, and other prominent Muslim values! 

What are your thoughts on this holiday? Is there a similar celebration in your country or faith? Let us know in the comments! 

To continue learning about Indian culture and the Hindi language, check out these free resources from the HindiPod101.com blog:

• Hindu Holidays: Celebrating the Onam Festival in India
• A Tribute to Mahatma Gandhi: The Gandhi Jayanti in India
• The Sikh Anniversary of Guru Nanak: History & Traditions
• Indian Etiquette: Social and Business Etiquette in India
• Common Useful Hindi Phrases for Travel Destinations in India

Whatever your reasons for wanting to learn about Indian culture or the Hindi language, know that HindiPod101 has your back! Create your free lifetime account today and take advantage of our numerous learning tools: themed vocabulary lists, spaced-repetition flashcards, audio and video lessons, and so much more! 

Stay safe out there, and happy Hindi learning.