Eid Ul Azha, or the ‘festival of sacrifice’, an important festival in the Islamic Calender that marks the end of the Annual Pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, known among the muslims as the “Hajj”.

During this three-day festival, muslims are mandated to slaughter designated animals such as sheep, goat, cows, and camels – depending on the availability and cultural norms of the region. All other animals’ sacrifice is forbidden during this festival.

This ‘sacrifice’ is carried out in commemoration of Prophet Ebrahim’s (Abraham) (PBUH) readiness to sacrifice his son to show obedience to God. But just as he was about to run the knife over his son’s throat, the son was promptly replaced by a sheep, and thus, this is how, or rather, why Muslims carry out this ritual.

Below are some of the images captured in different cities across the world commemorating Eid ul Azha.

Child at a local animal stall at a busy market in Jakarta – Indonesia

A sheep is being weighed on a scale for sale at a market in Amman – Jordan

A man trying to carry his recently purchased goat on my motorcycle in Karachi – Pakistan

People selecting cows for purchase at a local animal market in Karachi – Pakistan

A sheep being weighed for sale at a market at Pakistan-held Kashmir

Children lovingly hugging a goat recently purchase for sacrifice during Eid ul Azha in Rawalpindi – Pakistan

A man transporting a recent purchase on my custom-designed motorcycle in Palenstine.

Sheep and a goat having their meal at an animal market in Cairo – Egypt.

A boy tending to his herd while waiting for customers at a market in Baghdad – Iraq

Pictures: Courtesy Dawn.com