Males stroll with a cow purchased at a livestock market forward of the Muslim competition of Eid al-Adha, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photograph)
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Much less spending, greater costs and fewer animal sacrifices subdued the standard festive temper because the Muslim vacation of Eid al-Adha was celebrated in lots of components of the world.
In Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, Muslim worshippers have been shoulder-to-shoulder within the streets and the Istiqlal Grand Mosque was stuffed for morning prayers Friday.
Eid al-Adha, generally known as the “Feast of Sacrifice,” coincides with the ultimate rites of the annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia. It’s a joyous event, for which meals is a trademark with religious Muslims shopping for and slaughtering animals and sharing two-thirds of the meat with the poor.
Exterior Jakarta, the Jonggol Cattle Market bustled with a whole lot of cattle merchants hoping to promote to patrons on the lookout for sacrificial animals. Whereas gross sales elevated forward of Eid, sellers stated their companies have misplaced clients in recent times resulting from financial hardship following the COVID-19 pandemic.
A foot-and-mouth illness outbreak in 2022 to 2023 additionally considerably dampened the sometimes booming vacation commerce in goats, cows and sheep, although Indonesia’s authorities has labored to beat that outbreak.
Rahmat Debleng, one of many sellers out there, stated earlier than the pandemic and the FMD outbreak, he might promote greater than 100 cows two weeks forward of Eid al-Adha. However on the eve of the celebration this yr, solely 43 of his livestock have been offered, and 6 cows are nonetheless left in his stall.
“Although the foot-and-mouth outbreak threats stay loom massive, however the declining in gross sales largely due to financial hardship,” Debleng stated.
Jakarta metropolis administration information recorded the variety of sacrificial animals obtainable this yr at 35,133, a decline of 57% in comparison with the earlier yr.
The federal government has made subsequent Monday an extra vacation after Friday’s competition to permit individuals extra time with their households. Eid momentum is anticipated to help financial development in Indonesia, the place family consumption helps drive GDP. It contributed over 50% to the financial system final yr, although analysts anticipate extra subdued client spending in 2025.
Eid anticipated to return Saturday in South Asia
Eid al-Adha commemorates the Quranic story of Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice Ismail as an act of obedience to God. Earlier than he might perform the sacrifice, God supplied a ram as an providing. Within the Christian and Jewish telling, Abraham is ordered to kill one other son, Isaac.
South Asian international locations like India and Bangladesh will have fun Eid al-Adha on Saturday. Forward of the competition, many Muslims within the area have been turning to livestock markets to purchase and promote tens of millions of animals for sacrifice.
In New Delhi, sellers have been busy tending to their animals at these markets, whereas potential patrons negotiated costs with them.
Mohammad Ali Qureshi, one of many sellers, stated this yr his goats have been fetching as excessive as $640, some $60 greater than the final yr.
“Earlier, the sale of goats was sluggish, however now the market is sweet. Costs are on the upper aspect,” Ali stated.
Preparations for the competition have been additionally peaking in Indian-controlled Kashmir, the place many Muslims dye sheep and goats in henna earlier than they’re sacrificed.
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“We’re following the custom of Prophet Ibrahim,” stated Riyaz Wani, a resident in Kashmir’s important metropolis of Srinagar, as his household utilized henna on a sheep they plan to sacrifice.
