Ranchi: Coronavirus scare to mask Eid Ul Zuha festivity

RANCHI: With just a week left for Eid ul-Zuha, the markets would have been buzzing by now in other years. But like so many festivals before it, the Covid-19 pandemic has cast a shadow over Eid ul-Zuha, popularly known as Bakri Eid, too, this year.
Keeping in view the spread of the deadly virus, shahar kazi or the chief religious priest of the town, Kari Jaan Muhammad Mustafi, requested the masses to follow Covid norms set by the administration while observing the festival. “Kurbani or sacrifice is an essential part of Eid ul-Zuha festivities, but more than that Allah considers niyat (intent),” he said. Mustafi added that Ibrahim was ready to sacrifice his son but the Almighty stopped him from doing so, likewise if the situation does not permit the faithful to arrange for a sacrifice, they can offer prayers from home. He said that people can pray from where they are and accept the present situation as the will of the Almighty.
The Eid market here wears a deserted look, although some traders have brought goats for sale. Bajrang Ram, one of the sellers, said he did not find a customer for his two goats on Wednesday. “I hope that I will find a customer in the remaining days before the festival, but given the dull economic scenario nothing is guaranteed,” he said. The goats weighing 30-35kgs each have been priced between Rs 25,000 and Rs 35,000.
The state convener of Muslim Majlis Mushawarat, Khurshid Hasan Rumi, admitted that the lack of livelihood opportunities during the lockdown has had an impact on Eid shopping. “According to sharia, seven people can pool in their resources and sacrifice a big animal, whereas smaller animals can be sacrificed by an individual. As sacrifice of bovine animals is banned in Jharkhand, the option of seven people contributing to purchase a bigger animal is ruled out,” Rumi said, adding that even goats have gone beyond the purchasing power of common people this year.
Rumi also flagged another issue. “After animal sacrifice, the meat has to be divided into three parts. One part is distributed among the poor and downtrodden, one part is gifted to relatives and friends, while the third part is consumed by the family which arranged the sacrifice. But as visiting relatives and friends is difficult owing to the Covid situation, distributing the meat is also going to be a challenge,” Rumi said.