Eid... it's not quite Christmas but ....!

Eid... it's not quite Christmas but .... !
Tuesday was Eid-ul-Azha day here in Bangladesh. "It is the second largest religious festival of Muslims. Well-off Muslims will sacrifice animals and share the sacrificial meat with their relatives, neighbours and the poor commemorating Hazrat Ibrahim's (read Abraham's) devotion to almighty Allah as illustrated by his readiness to give up his dearest son Hazrat Ismail." (read Ismael) Quoting "The Daily Star"(brackets mine) (for the full story http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=66663 or the editorial http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=66517)

It was a part of the Bangla experience to be here for this. Being the more rural types we were more interested than some expats friends who fell in love with the many sets of big brown eyes in the streets.

We visited the market the day before. There were numerous bulls and male goats for sale.


Many were decorated with lays or pink horns!


We had come to look but as bedeshies in Bangladesh WE were interesting to look at too!


Steve even got a new friend who was keen to tell him about the importance of Australian Bangladesh friendship, and hold his hand for a photo.

A walk around our area showed many beasts waiting and still more arriving.

(This is our street)(the main road in DOHS where we live)




People were keen to be photographed with their bulls




and knife sharpeners were busy! While others were heading back to their home village.

The next day well.... I am not going to include some pictures because they might distress some.

It was actually more peaceful to watch than the photos would suggest. Care was taken to make it as quick and painless for the animals as possible.
(This 'picnic' was down stairs from our place. The white car in the background is the one we use.)

There was a festive party atmosphere as the carving up took place. Only 1/3 of the meat is kept for the family while 1/3 must go to the poor and 1/3 to other relatives and friends. ... so at several times during the afternoon it became very noisy as people gathered to collect their gifts of meat. NOTHING at all was wasted.

While it was interesting, we both found it was a little overwhelming with the sheer volume of it all....

Our "adopted family" came for dinner that night and we enjoyed a meal together just as many deshes were!


Written by Jeanette
Josh, Steve, Elaine and Esther