The Eid that brings the most excitement to children has arrived; yes, I am talking about Eidul Azha -- celebrated on the 10th of Zilhaj all over the world. This Eid brings a lot of fun for both kids and adults, whether it’s going to the market searching for a sacrificial animal, visiting relatives’ and friends’ homes to see their cows or goats or going out for a stroll with the animals and, of course, the feasts that follow. There’s so much to enjoy!

But this Eid is not really about fun, it carries a valuable lesson with it, which is the concept of sacrifice. We bring an animal with love, take care of it, feed it and look after its comfort. As time passes, we become very attached to it, which are actually the moments when we sacrifice it in the way of Allah to attain Allah’s pleasure. And by sharing our sacrifice with those who struggle to afford meat, we learn valuable lessons of kindness and sharing. This act of selflessness also makes us more aware of our blessings and the privileges we enjoy.

However, during the process — from bringing the animal for slaughter to its safe sacrifice and distribution — one can often observe mishandling by the butchers, mainly due to lack of experience.

Let me share a story with you that was quite terrifying. A few years ago, on the day of our cow’s sacrifice, the butchers had arrived and were making preparations for it. Being experts, they effortlessly restrained and slaughtered the cow. But what happened next was so frightening that scares me to this day.

Another cow being slaughtered in our street was mishandled by inexperienced butchers, causing it to break free and run towards our house. The crowd that had gathered around our cow panicked, and some rushed into our house, creating chaos. This incident was so frightening for everyone and especially me that I no longer watch the sacrifice taking place, because it has left a lasting fear in my heart.

Now, let’s talk about the delicious aspects of Eidul Azha. The festivities bring a variety of mouth-watering dishes that everyone eagerly awaits. There is the delicious liver that is cooked right after the qurbani, a grand barbecue session on the rooftop with the whole family, pulao, biryani, karahi and much more. These are the joys of Eid, and we all come together and wholeheartedly enjoy all the dishes.

The best time for me is when my friends and I get together for a barbecue. We have a lot of fun making the preparations and then enjoying the delicious tikka, seekh kebabs and puris together. But you won’t believe it that when we had our first barbecue, we couldn’t even light the coals properly! And when they finally did light up, a huge flame suddenly shot up and scared us all! In the end, my mum had to step in and get things under control. All of these hilarious experiences make our festivals even more memorable.

In the end, all I want to say that Eidul Azha brings with it immense joy and cherished memories. It’s a festival that teaches us the values of sacrifice, sharing and togetherness, filling our hearts and the hearts of those around us with happiness. Let’s celebrate this Eid with open hearts, embracing its true spirit and spreading joy to all.

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 6th, 2025