Eid Delicacies

The Eid ul-Adha celebrates the faith and obedience of Ibrahim, and the mercy that Allah can show. In honor of the ending of the story, animal sacrifice is an important part of the feast. In accordance with Islamic beliefs, a goat or sheep is slaughtered by slicing its throat while saying the name of Allah. By following this tradition, people are reminded that all life is considered sacred. The animal is divided into thirds and shared between the family, given to friends, and donated to the needy.

The animal sacrifice usually occurs on the first day of celebration, allowing the meat to be distributed during the following days. Traditionally, Muslims then spend the rest of the festival visiting friends and neighbors, sharing food, and offering gifts. People may also send special greeting cards bearing blessings and good wishes to relatives and friends in other parts of the world.

The food eaten during the festival focuses on the use of the sacrificial meat. Since the entire animal is used, the celebration is a chance for cooks to show off their skills with different preparations. Popular dishes include curries, stews, kebabs, and roasts. Sweets, such as pastries and puddings, are also very popular.

In Malaysia, the dishes are a bit different from other parts of the world. Here we have rendang, lemang and ketupat. it is cooked using the sacrificial meat.