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Muslims From Europe To Asia Celebrate Eid Al-Adha, The Feast Of Sacrifice

Muslims are marking one of the major Islamic holidays, Eid al-Adha. During the holiday period, Muslims slaughter animals in symbolic homage to the story of the prophet Ibrahim and his willingness to sacrifice his first son as an act of supplication to God.

Muslims are taught that before Ibrahim could sacrifice his son, God provided a lamb to sacrifice instead. It is traditional to distribute the sacrificial meat to the poor.​

Amid a surge in new COVID-19 cases, people must deal with coronavirus restrictions for the second year in a row.​ Here's a look at the Eid celebrations from Europe to Central Asia.
Chechen Muslims pray in a mosque on the first day of Eid al-Adha in the Russian republic's capital, Grozny, on July 20.
1 Chechen Muslims pray in a mosque on the first day of Eid al-Adha in the Russian republic's capital, Grozny, on July 20.
Muslims pray in Kazan, Russia.
2 Muslims pray in Kazan, Russia.
Muslim believers pray at a mosque near Pristina, Kosovo, on July 20.
3 Muslim believers pray at a mosque near Pristina, Kosovo, on July 20.
Afghan security forces stand guard as people arrive to offer Eid al-Adha prayers at a mosque in Herat, Afghanistan.
4 Afghan security forces stand guard as people arrive to offer Eid al-Adha prayers at a mosque in Herat, Afghanistan.
Bosnian Muslims gather in front of Sarajevo's main mosque for morning prayers on the first day of Eid al-Adha.
5 Bosnian Muslims gather in front of Sarajevo's main mosque for morning prayers on the first day of Eid al-Adha.
A sheep is sold for sacrificial slaughter in Kazakhstan's Almaty region.
6 A sheep is sold for sacrificial slaughter in Kazakhstan's Almaty region.
Muslim devotees offer prayers at the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan.
7 Muslim devotees offer prayers at the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan.
A child watches during Eid al-Adha prayers inside a mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan.
8 A child watches during Eid al-Adha prayers inside a mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan.
The faithful gather in the Moscow Cathedral Mosque on July 20.
9 The faithful gather in the Moscow Cathedral Mosque on July 20.
Crimean Tatars prepare to slaughter sacrificial sheep in Saky, Crimea.
10 Crimean Tatars prepare to slaughter sacrificial sheep in Saky, Crimea.
Muslims pray at the Ar-Rahma Mosque in Kyiv, Ukraine.
11 Muslims pray at the Ar-Rahma Mosque in Kyiv, Ukraine.
A Muslim cleric puts a blood mark on the forehead of an army serviceman in the village of Uzynagash outside Almaty, Kazakhstan.
12 A Muslim cleric puts a blood mark on the forehead of an army serviceman in the village of Uzynagash outside Almaty, Kazakhstan.
A woman takes a selfie with her friends after offering prayers at the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan.
13 A woman takes a selfie with her friends after offering prayers at the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan.
Eid al-Adha prayers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan
14 Eid al-Adha prayers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan
People struggle to control a bull for slaughtering in Karachi, Pakistan.
15 People struggle to control a bull for slaughtering in Karachi, Pakistan.
Kazakh Muslims pray during the rite of sacrifice in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
16 Kazakh Muslims pray during the rite of sacrifice in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
The leader of Bosnia's Muslim community, Grand Mufti Husein Kavazovic (right), in front of Sarajevo's main mosque for morning prayers
17 The leader of Bosnia's Muslim community, Grand Mufti Husein Kavazovic (right), in front of Sarajevo's main mosque for morning prayers
Afghan Muslims offer Eid al-Adha prayers in Herat.
18 Afghan Muslims offer Eid al-Adha prayers in Herat.
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